Good Samaritans save man's life at Pennridge football game

PERKASIE, Pa.(WTXF) - Pennridge School District business was put on hold for a few moments Monday night for a hug between strangers. Well, they were strangers 11 days ago, until Thanksgiving on the bleachers before the start of the Pennridge football game. That's when 75-year-old Peter Mahon, husband, father of four, grandfather of 12, suddenly collapsed.

"We were going up to the stands and evidently I fell," he said.

That's all he remembers because his heart stopped.

Brianne Mangeney was sitting nearby. This was her first football game there since her cheerleading days almost 20 years ago. But not only was she there and saw Pete go down, she is a nurse practitioner.

Before long, a dozen others rushed over to help; school officials, athletic trainers, the equipment manager, who is also a volunteer firefighter.

"It was probably about 13 minutes from when the patient had gone down to when the patient was already almost into the back of the ambulance," Chris Bogen said.

Pete wouldn't be at the school board meeting if his heart had stopped for 13 minutes. But there he was, thanking the strangers who sprung into action to get his heart going again in those precious first moments before paramedics arrived.

"Some people in our country today have forgotten what the USA is all about. You're what the U.S.A is all about, believe me," he said.

This Army veteran gave them each an American flag and a chuckle.

"I thank you from the bottom of my now functioning heart."

Applause for some heroes and proof that CPR training really does save lives.