U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers helped save the life of a Canadian man who went into cardiac arrest near a border crossing from Whatcom County.
"This is a great example of how our CBP employees embody CBP's core values of integrity, service to country and vigilance," CBP Area Port Director Harmit Gill said in a Friday, Aug. 19, release about the incident. "These officers are trained to respond to traumatic events, and they have shown their bravery, dedication and teamwork by saving this man's life."
The CBP officers saw the man fall from a bicycle he was riding on Aug. 15 near the second inspection area of the Point Roberts cross, according to the release.
The officers immediately responded, conducted a brief medical assessment and found the man had a pulse, was breathing but remained unresponsive, the release states.
The officers positioned the man on his side to help him breathe easier and called for Emergency Medical Service, according to the release, but before they arrived, the man lost his pulse, and the officers performed CPR until EMS arrived.
The EMS crews determined the man was in cardiac arrest, the release states, and he was air lifted by helicopter to St. Joseph's hospital in Bellingham.
The officers then helped coordinate travel for the man's spouse through Canada to Bellingham, according to the release.
