Nassau cops, medic honored for saving Long Island woman’s life

Mary Feeney, center, stands with Nassau Police officers Sean Keeffe,... — Mary Feeney, center, stands with Nassau Police officers Sean Keeffe, Nicole Mauro, medic Joseph Miner, and Michael LaSala, who are honored by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 in Mineola. Credit: Howard Schnapp

By Newsday StaffDecember 16, 2016

Three Nassau police officers and a medic were honored Friday by the Nassau County executive for reviving a Merrick woman who had a heart attack in her home in September.

Officer Michael LaSala, 24, was on patrol in Merrick on Sept. 16 and happened to be near the home of Mary Feeney, 62, when her husband called 911. Feeney had complained of chest pain.

LaSala, the first to arrive, found Feeney on her bedroom floor with no pulse.

He performed chest compressions, then used a portable defibrillator to stimulate Feeney’s heart, reviving her.

“They really did save my life,” Feeney said Friday at a ceremony in Mineola. “My family would be spending the holidays without me, if they hadn’t been there.”

County Executive Edward Mangano handed citations to LaSala, police medic Joseph Miner, 23, and two other officers, Sean Keeffe and Nicole Mauro.

“It was just lucky timing,” LaSala said. “I was close. I had the equipment available to me.”