Local

Orlando cop saves marching band member during D.C. parade

WASHINGTON D.C. — An Orlando police lieutenant is being called a hero after he helped save a man's life more than a thousand miles from central Florida.
 
The lieutenant was part of the Officer's Memorial Parade in Washington, D.C., when he noticed a firefighter marching in the parade had collapsed.
 
Lt. Douglas Goerke told Channel 9's Jorge Estevez that he didn't want all of the credit for saving the firefighter's life. He said he had help from the time the man collapsed until he was safely in the hospital.
 
The firefighter was part of a pipe and drum band leading the parade. But just after they began marching, he collapsed.
 
"I saw a commotion in the center of the park and I looked over," said Goerke.
 
Goerke, who was representing the Orlando Police Department at the service, said he did what any officer would do. 
 
"We did a quick assessment and he did not have a pulse," said Goerke.
 
Goerke, along with Officer Gary Robertson with the St. Louis County Police, began CPR and called for a defibrillator.
 
"I started pointing to people, 'You go find me one. You go find another one. Whoever gets back, first we'll use it,'" Goerke said.
 
He said it was only after a third shock from the defibrillator that the man began showing signs of life.
 
The two men were later able to share a moment of gratitude at the hospital together.
 
"I was not looking at him as a firefighter, I was looking at him as someone who needed help," said Goerke.
 
Goerke said the firefighter had suffered full cardiac arrest and had heart blockage.
 
He said the man expressed his gratitude to Goerke for his quick action.