The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
COUPLE HONORED
Efforts help save life of Grafton man
Two good Samaritans helped a Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper save the life of a Grafton man in July.
On Dec. 27, the three lifesavers were honored for their work in assisting Jerry Fowle, who had suffered a heart attack while jogging.
University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center hosted a ceremony where the Highway Patrol Elyria Post honored Trooper Sgt. Timmothy Hoffman, Michelle Dostall of Grafton and her fiance, Paul Signorelli, and for saving Fowle’s life.
The couple noticed Fowle was on the ground about 10 a.m., July 3, and immediately did what they could to help him.
They gave him mouth-tomouth resuscitation and chest compressions.
A short time later, Hoffman
“I’m glad they were there to help me when I needed it. I’m grateful for what they did, and I owe a lot to them.” — Jerry Fowle
arrived and used the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) from his cruiser until EMS arrived.
Fowle, 63, who has since recovered, said he owes a lot to everyone who helped save his life.
“I’m glad they were there to help me when I needed it,” he said. “I’m grateful for what they did, and I owe a lot to them.”
Dostall said it was a crazy set of circumstances that allowed her and Signorelli to be in the right place at the right time.
“I had a class scheduled, for nursing, at Cuyahoga Community College Westshore,” she said. “But for some reason, on a beautiful July day, I decided to skip my morning class.
“My fiance also decided that he was going to be at home as well. Before I know it, he’s banging at the door and telling me we need to get over to a man who was lying on the ground on Cowley Road.”
Dostall said when she reached Fowle, she could tell he wasn’t breathing.
“It was the scariest moment of my life,” she said. “I was in nursing school, but I hadn’t even gone over CPR in class yet.
“I just used what I remembered learning in high school a while back. Fortunately, I was able to administer CPR properly and was able to help him.”
Dostall said she was unaware of how Fowle was doing until about a month ago.
“I didn’t know he had recovered,” she said. “I went two to three months before I got the phone. I cried and thought about him many times.
“I then received a call from him and I was so relieved to know everything had worked out.”
Hoffman said he was on patrol when he heard the call of a man down.
“I arrived as quickly as I could,” he said. “I was in the area and knew my cruiser was equipped with an AED, so I knew I could help out quicker than EMS.”
Hoffman said it was a moment when natural instinct took over.
“We’re trained and certified continuously by the state and that is done so we’re ready when the time comes,” he said. “I made sure to use the AED properly and provide chest compressions until EMS was able to arrive.”
Hoffman said he was overjoyed when he heard Fowle had recovered.
“I had never been involved in anything like this before,” he said. “When his wife called me and told me he was okay, it was the best feeling.
“All of this is nice, but all I needed was the good news that he had made it.”
Dostall, Signorelli and Hoffman were presented with certificates of recognition by the Highway Patrol for their efforts in saving Fowle’s life.