Police officer saves public works employee struck by lightning in New Jersey
A New Jersey public works employee was revived Wednesday by a police officer after being struck by lightning while working on the grounds of a local middle school.
The incident happened at Iselin Middle School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, located in Middlesex County.
"He is alert and aware and talking and that's very, very good news," Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac said.
Eric Baumgartner, 39, a parks maintenance worker and 18-year veteran of the Woodbridge Department of Public Works Parks Division, was lining a practice soccer field at the school with other parks department workers when a fast-moving thunderstorm unexpectedly appeared.
A single lightning bolt struck Baumgartner before he and co-workers were able to reach shelter, McCormac said.
The incident happened around 12:21 p.m. Wednesday and co-workers immediately called 911.
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Firefighter restored man's pulse
Woodbridge Police Officer Robert J. McPartland, known as R.J., a three-year member of the department and a certified EMT, was on duty at the township's John F. Kennedy Memorial High School next to Iselin Middle School.
McPartland, a former firefighter, arrived on the scene within minutes and immediately initiated CPR and was able to restore Baumgartner's pulse.
Responding EMTs and EMS took Baumgartner to Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center in New Brunswick.
"I would say as of right now I have every reason to believe that R.J. McPartland saved Eric Baumgartner's life and I couldn't be prouder of the job our police officers do," McCormac said during a news conference at the school where he was joined by Woodbridge Police Director Robert Hubner, DPW Director George Brew and McPartland. "What a fortunate set of events that R.J. (McPartland) was here."
Baumgartner is a husband and father, according to Brew who described him as "great guy."
Brew said he spoke to Baumgartner while he was in the ambulance and he knew who his boss was, but he wasn't sure what had happened. Brew said he also contacted Baumgartner's wife.
'We just knew we had to begin compressions'
McPartland said the high school had just let out and he was on his way to the middle school for their dismissal when the call came in. Just prior to the call McPartland saw a large lightning strike from his car that he thought seemed very close.
As soon as he arrived, he saw Baumgartner on the field, ran to him and checked for a pulse, didn't find one and began CPR.
He said Baumgartner was still holding one of the machines and he had to loosen his grip before additional medical attention was rendered and he was taken to the hospital.
McPartland said Baumgartner had burn marks on his hands.
"We just knew we had to begin compressions to get his heart going again," said McPartland, adding this is the first lightning strike call he's responded to.
He said Baumgartner began to gain a pulse and regain consciousness once he was in the ambulance.
"I'm just glad I was close and able to get to him as fast as we did," said McPartland, who personally knows Baumgartner from their time working for the township. "It's what we are trained to do."
Hubner, who praised McPartland's actions, said there is no higher honor than saving someone's life.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: New Jersey police officer saves public worker struck by lightning
