MANCHESTER, CT. – Manchester first responders did all they could to save a man’s life who died after having a heart attack while shoveling off his roof on Tuesday.
But it’s what they did after that shows their true dedication to serve and protect.
Just before 10 a.m., first responders were called to Scott Drive in Manchester. Police said 57-year-old Miroslaw Dobrowski had a heart attack.
“We climbed up on to the roof and started doing CPR until fire services took over for us,” Manchester Police Department Officer Bernie Hallums said.
Despite their best efforts to save his life, Dobrowski died at the hospital.
“Absolutely heartbreaking. We try to preserve life as best we can,” Hallums said.
Feeling helpless they couldn’t do more, a number of first responders thought with their hearts. Just a few hours later headed back to Dobrowski’s house to finish shoveling the roof.
“We treat every citizen in the community like they’re our own family and we felt that was just the right thing to do,” said Ryan Bilodeau, of the Manchester Fire Department.
It’s a lesson in compassion, charity and kindness for others. On this gray March day, the world seemed a bit more beautiful knowing there are people like this out there.
“That’s why I got into this field in the first place. None of us do it for the money,” Bilodeau said. “It’s all about serving people in the best capacity that we can and I love doing this job.”
First responders from police, fire and EMS said this isn’t the first time they’ve done something like this. In fact they do it often, this just happened to be captured on camera.
