Montreal family meets Good Samaritans who delivered life-saving CPR
Gloria Borrelli and her mother Francesca were emotional as they embraced Mikhael Esterez outside Montreal’s Sacré-Coeur hospital, expressing their gratitude for his role in saving Gloria’s father, 87-year-old Sabato Borrelli. After a week of searching, the Borrelli family finally met Esterez and another woman, who preferred to remain anonymous, but who also played a crucial part in the life-saving CPR that took place when Sabato collapsed from cardiac arrest during his daily walk near Jarry Park on May 15.
“You guys are superheroes for us,” Gloria tearfully told them. The family was able to meet Sabato in his hospital room, where he waved and expressed his thanks multiple times. Esterez reached out to CBC after reading about Sabato’s recovery, urging them to find the woman who first called 911 and initiated compressions that day.
Sabato’s 87th birthday coincided with his awakening at the hospital on May 17, the same day Esterez turned 35. Esterez had stumbled upon the scene while dropping off his daughter at daycare and saw Sabato on the ground with a woman on the phone. Despite the lack of a defibrillator, Esterez and the woman alternated performing chest compressions until the paramedics arrived.
Reflecting on the experience, Esterez mentioned Sabato’s intense blue eyes staring up at him during the compressions, expressing relief in seeing him alive and well. He continued until the first paramedic arrived with a defibrillator, shocking Sabato before rushing him to the hospital.
Urgences-santé’s log indicated a delay in the ambulance’s arrival due to a high volume of calls that day. Although the response time was longer than usual, Esterez emphasized the importance of CPR training and clearing the way for emergency vehicles.
In light of the incident, Esterez highlighted the need for people to learn CPR and be mindful of emergency vehicles on the road. The heartwarming reunion between Sabato and his family, made possible by the quick actions of strangers like Esterez and the anonymous woman, serves as a reminder of the impact of basic life-saving skills in critical situations.
