France honors Paris teacher who saved jogger's life
Posted May 10, 2021 7:00 am
PARIS (AP) - The French government gave a medal Monday to a math teacher-volunteer firefighter who used CPR to save the life of a jogger in a Paris park, a gesture that has drawn national attention to the importance of first aid training.
The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28.
Multiple passersby intervened when he collapsed. Marion Dehecq, a 24-year-old math teacher who works as a volunteer firefighter a few days a month, performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Others helped by counting the compressions and applying a public defibrillator installed in the park.
'œYou saved my husband's life,'ť Hinnant wrote on the signs to the mysterious helper. 'œThank you, from our whole family.'ť
Once Dehecq was identified, French Prime Minister Jean Castex tweeted his thanks to 'œour everyday hero,'ť and wished the now-recovering Sigal and his family well.
On Monday, France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa, gave Dehecq a bronze medal for courage and dedication in a ceremony at the Paris fire service headquarters.
French math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq, left, talks with Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, after she receives a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony with France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa, right, and General commander of the Paris Firefighters Brigade Jean-Marie Gontier, right, pose with a math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq, center, after she received a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
French math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq listens to speeches prior to receive a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony with France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
French math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq, poses after she receives a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony with France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
French math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq, poses after she receives a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony with France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
French math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq, left, talks with Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, after she receives a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony with France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa, right, gives a bronze medal for courage and dedication to a math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
French math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq, left, talks with Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, after she receives a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony with France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
French math teacher-volunteer fighter, Marion Dehecq, left, poses with Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, after she receives a bronze medal for courage and dedication as she used CPR to save the life of a jogger, during a ceremony with France's minister for citizenship issues, Marlene Schiappa at the Paris fire service headquarters in Paris, France, Monday, May 10, 2021. The jogger's wife, Paris-based Associated Press journalist Lori Hinnant, helped identify the anonymous rescuer by putting up thank-you signs in Monceau Park, where her husband Peter Sigal went into cardiac arrest on April 28. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, pool)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.