Team Effort Helps First Responders Reach Critical Patient In Woodbury During Blizzard

WOODBURY, CT — An elderly man experienced a medical emergency Monday during the height of the blizzard, and the weather created several challenges for emergency personnel trying to save him.

Woodbury Police Officer Mark DeFeo said responders had multiple obstacles when they arrived.

“The nearby road wasn’t plowed yet, and a tree was down so the ambulance couldn’t get through,” DeFeo said.

In addition, the victim’s driveway was very long and impassable due to the amount of snow that had fallen, according to police.

The Woodbury Public Works Department responded immediately and cleared a path so ambulance and emergency personnel could reach the house, officials said.

According to DeFeo, public works got the tree out of the way, and plowed the road and driveway.

State troopers and Woodbury police also helped shovel the driveway and a path so medical personnel could reach the patient and bring him out on a stretcher to an awaiting ambulance.

“Seconds mattered, because this patient was so critical,” DeFeo said.

The patient was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. Officials did not have an update on his condition as of Tuesday.

Police posted about the rescue effort on Facebook Tuesday, thanking everyone for their help and teamwork.

“The Woodbury Police Department would like to extend a sincere thank you to our partners at Woodbury Ambulance and the Woodbury Public Works Department for their incredible work during a serious medical emergency yesterday,” the post said.

Police also thanked the AMR Ambulance Service paramedics for their help with the rescue, calling it a “true team effort under challenging conditions.”

Troopers from Troop L and Troop A, along with Woodbury officers, were all using shovels to clear the remaining driveway and stairs.

“Together, they assisted in carrying the victim safely to the waiting ambulance,” the post said. “When the weather is at its worst, our community’s first responders and public works crews are at their best.”