A woman in Cleveland, Ohio saved a policeman’s life during a community event on Saturday.
According to the reports, Sgt. Ray O’Connor suddenly collapsed and went unconscious after he was stung by two bees while playing football with kids during a back to school festival at the Friendly Inn on Cleveland’s East Side on August 20.
Before the Sgt. O’Connor fell to the ground, he reportedly told his partner, Officer Brooklyn Barnes what just happened and informed him that he was deathly allergic to bees.
However, when the shocking incident took place, Officer Barnes forgot his EpiPen at the 4th District.
Officer Barnes and a 3rd District officer immediately carried Sgt. Connor to a police cruiser.
While the two rendered first aid, a mom identified as Tomika Johnson rushed home and grabbed her 10-year-old son’s EpiPen and within seconds, she returned and handed it to the officer and Officer Barnes administered it to her partner.
“I don’t even know who I gave the Epi-Pen to that was tending to the officer, Sergeant O’Connor. But I kept yelling, ‘Hit him in the hip! Hit him in the hip!’” Johnson said in an interview with WKYC.
After Officer Barnes administered the EpiPen, he continued to render first aid in the back of the police cruiser while the 3rd District police officer drove them to the hospital.
Reports revealed that when they arrived at St. Vincent Hospital, Sgt. O’Connor was still unconscious.
In the findings released by the doctors, they revealed that Johnson’s EpiPen and quick response by all, saved Sgt. O’Connor’s life.
“Ms. Johnson’s quick thinking, fast response and concern for this officers well-being demonstrated a high regard for human life,” the medical staff at St. Vincent Hospital, said.
Moreover, several days after the mother saved his life, Sgt. O’Connor and Officer Barnes went to Johnson’s home to thank her and brought them birthday gifts for her 10-year-old son, Zaire.
“The extraordinary actions demonstrated by Ms.Johnson and Zaire on August 20th showed sincerity above and beyond. Ms.Johnson and Zaire will be recognized at the City of Cleveland’s Fourth District Awards Ceremony on October 6,2022 and will receive the city’s “Citizen Award”. The above story proves that with the help of the community, lives can be saved. As the card said, Zaire and Ms. Johnson are our heroes,” Cleveland police said in a statement posted on Facebook.
