Des Plaines fish market employees honored for saving life

An employee of Boston Fish Market in Des Plaines is doing very well today because of the lifesaving actions of two of her co-workers and police and firefighter/paramedics, authorities said.

Those involved in performing CPR and other lifesaving techniques on the woman in November were honored this week by city officials with lifesaving awards.

The woman collapsed and went into cardiac arrest about 4 p.m. Nov. 10. Two of her co-workers, Steven Nardi and Eduardo Marin, started to perform CPR, while others called 911, according to Fire Chief Alan Wax.

Police officers Nicholas Braski and Theresa Bieschke were the first to arrive on scene, and took over CPR. Firefighters Duane Owen, Andy Swierczynski, Brian Hoffman and Ed Wilson were next to arrive, and continued CPR and performed cardiac defibrillation twice, until the employee's heartbeat was restored, Wax said.

The woman soon returned to cardiac arrest, but then firefighter/paramedics Ed Mazzei and Tom Bauer stepped in to provide advanced treatments, ultimately restoring the woman's heartbeat and breathing.

She regained consciousness and began talking to the rescuers and co-workers. She was eventually released from the hospital where she had been taken for treatment.