PORTLAND — Mayor Michael Brennan and the City Council tonight will recognize 15 firefighters and dispatchers who resuscitated a longtime fellow firefighter after he had a heart attack at work.

Lt. Steve Henderson, who has been with the Portland Fire Department for more than 26 years, was found slumped over a computer keyboard on July 20. Henderson was not breathing and didn’t have a heartbeat when he was found by David Crowley, a firefighter/EMT.

Crowley called 911 and performed CPR with other members of the department until paramedics arrived. Henderson had been filling out end-of-shift documentation when he suffered sudden cardiac arrest.

“This was a team effort, too often this type of event ends with a sad outcome, and I am delighted to say Steve is home with his family and friends because we were trained, present and prepared,” Chief Jerome LaMoria said in a prepared statement.

In addition to Crowley, department personnel who will be recognized include: Deputy Chief David Jackson, Capt. Michael Nixon, Lt. Edward Dexter, telecommunicators Herbert Dennison and Brian Cole, and firefighter/EMTs Craig Messinger, Andrew Johnston, Jonathan Denham, Elizabeth Morrissey, Sean Donaghue, Edward Doughty, Gary Anderson, Vincent Difillipo Jr., Ronald Giroux Jr., Todd Libby and Joshua Tripp.

Brennan and the City Council will recognize the fire department members at 7 p.m. Monday in Portland City Hall council chambers. Henderson is expected to be at the presentation.


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