Murphy helps save man

WASHINGTON — Tim Murphy’s doctoral degree is in psychology, not physical medicine, but that didn’t stop the congressman from stepping in to help resuscitate an unresponsive man Wednesday.

The Republican from Upper St. Clair was with aides waiting for an elevator on the third floor of Rayburn House Office Building late Wednesday afternoon. When the elevator doors opened, they found a Capitol mail clerk unresponsive on the floor. He had no pulse and was bleeding from a head injury apparently caused when he collapsed, Mr. Murphy said.

The congressman and legislative assistant Darcy McLaughlin began cardiopulmonary resuscitation while another aide called 911. Legislative director Scott Dziengelski ran down two flights of stairs to alert Capitol police, then returned to get a defibrillator from a wall across from a nearby hearing room.

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, a medical doctor, came upon the scene and began treating the man’s head wound, Mr. Murphy said.

“Everybody just jumped into action. It’s an intense scene and we’re just all doing the best we can,” Mr. Murphy said afterward.

Between the CPR and a Capitol police officer’s application of the defibrillator, the man began breathing.

Press secretary Carly Atchison said Mr. Murphy and his aides were shaken and praying for the man’s recovery.