1:11 p.m., May 27, 2009----“They were like angels that came out of the sky.” That's how Lee Anderson, Maxwell P. and Mildred H. Harrington Professor of Marine Studies, described three Newark Police Department officers who answered a 911 call and saved his life.

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Master Corporal Dennis Aniunas, a 1991 graduate of UD, and Corporals Andrew Pagnotti and Jerry Bryda, all of the Newark Police Department, received Life-saving Awards from the New Castle County Paramedics at a ceremony on May 18. Anderson and his wife Sheila both attended the ceremony.

Anderson suffered cardiac arrest when his heart suddenly stopped beating. His wife called 911 and then applied CPR until the police officers arrived.

“They were mystery people to me because I was unconscious for days, but they were fast and efficient and applied the paddles until the medics arrived and got me to the hospital. I am very grateful,” Anderson said.

Anderson was treated by hypothermia, immersed in freezing cold water, and later a pacemaker and defibrillator were put into place.

“We were fortunate the cardiac wing at Christiana was completed, and that our doctor, James Hopkins, was there,” Sheila Anderson said. “The University was very supportive, especially Dean Nancy Targett (of the College of Marine and Earth Studies) and the people in Benefits,”

“Only five percent of cardiac arrest patients survive, and those who do usually require different kinds of therapy, but Lee did not,” she said.

Although responding to 911 calls and administering CPR is not uncommon, the outcome is not always as successful as this, Aniunas said. “Professor Anderson was at the ceremony and it was amazing and good to see him looking so well.”

Article by Sue Moncure