'Living proof': RFC firefighters earn Life Saving Award

HARBOR SPRINGS — Two members of the American Legion Post 281 Drum and Bugle Corps were presented with a Life Saving Award during Monday's Harbor Springs City Council meeting in celebration of the work they did to save a fellow corps member.

On May 22, members of the Drum and Bugle Corps were practicing for the Memorial Day parade when Paul Bianchi fell to the ground. He was having a heart attack. Marty MacGregor and Mike Geary both immediately leaped into action to perform life-saving practices while waiting for EMS and police to arrive.

MacGregor and Geary, both members of the volunteer RFC Fire and Rescue (covering Readmond, Friendship and Cross Village townships) as well as the Drum and Bugle Corps, performed CPR on Bianchi, who was unresponsive and did not have a pulse. Officer Josh Johnston arrived on the scene and brought a defibrillator, which was attached to Bianchi while CPR continued, according to agenda materials. Shocks were given and Bianchi's pulse was regained. Emmet County EMS then arrived and Bianchi was transported to McLaren Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey. He has since made a full recovery.

Off-duty police officer Tyler Swiss helped administer CPR as well.

During the meeting, Harbor Springs Police Chief Kyle Knight presented MacGregor and Geary with life saving awards. The presentation included footage from Johnston's body camera, which showed the men performing the life saving actions.

"If Marty MacGregor and Mike Geary had not provided immediate aid to Paul Bianchi, he would not have survived this heart attack," Knight said during the meeting. "Therefore, it is with pleasure to present both Marty and Mike with the distinguished Life Saving Award."

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Following the presentation, Bianchi spoke to the crowd, sharing his thanks for the first responders who saved his life.

"I have to say, watching that is a little disconcerting, seeing yourself laying in the street. Then I started thinking, taking myself out of the equation, and I saw professional guys step up," Bianchi said. "They (first responders) make a difference. I'm living proof, obviously. Thank you very much, as you know, I wouldn't be here. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

— Contact reporter Karly Graham atkgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at@KarlyGrahamJRN.