News

Actions

15-year-old who went into cardiac arrest searches for hero who saved his life

Posted at 5:49 PM, Sep 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-26 23:25:39-04

A family and a fire department are asking for your help finding the hero who saved a 15-year-old boy.

It happened on August 26 at the Country Cabin Restaurant in Sterling Heights. 

Fifteen-year-old Robert Brown III was out to breakfast with his dad. His dad got up to pay the bill.  As he paid he heard a glass crash at his table, turned, and saw his son was not conscious. 

“I am like, 'please get up',” said Robert Brown, Jr.

An owner of the restaurant called 911. A woman who just happened to be there eating said she was a nurse. She offered to give CPR on the teen that at times had no pulse. 

Witnesses say as the woman gave the teen CPR tears were streaming down her face. 

“She was doing CPR from when the 3 police officers arrived and they took over care from her until firefighters arrived,” said Chief Chris Martin of the Sterling Heights Fire Department. “And that teamwork saved that young man’s life. He is making a full recovery right now.”

“It was a scary, scary moment,” said Robert Brown III.

He says while unconscious, he saw his mom who died when he was little of a congenital heart defect.

“Now I know she is really in Heaven,” said Robert. 

In surveillance video recorded in the restaurant you can see customers praying as he is worked on. 

Robert was rushed to a nearby hospital - then airlifted to the University of Michigan CS Mott hospital. 

He found out he has the same heart defect his mom had. He can no longer play football, the game he loves, but he is alive. A pacemaker should protect him. 

He and his dad want to thank the woman who saved him.

“She came and brought me back to life and I am happy. I always have a smile on my face,” said the teen. 

“Thank you for bringing my son back,” said his dad. 

If you know who saved him,  the Sterling Heights Fire Department wants to honor her. 

The Country Cabin Restaurant wants to celebrate this young man’s survival. They are inviting everyone to come out and eat on Saturday, September 30. 

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the young man for his medical bills.