Davenport Police Officer Saves Woman During Chicago Bears Game
What began as a typical Sunday for Bears fan Laura Hart quickly turned into a fight for survival. Shortly after arriving at Soldier Field for a November game, Hart stood for the national anthem and suddenly collapsed from cardiac arrest.
A Hero in the Stands
Among the crowd was Riley McIntyre, an off-duty police officer from Davenport. Recognizing the emergency, he immediately jumped into action. McIntyre performed life-saving CPR on Hart until medical teams could take over. Hart spent the following two weeks in the hospital recovering.
Reflecting on the near-death experience, Hart said, "It was the time for the national anthem, and I stood up, and that's basically the last thing I remember. That is when my angels swept in, and all the helpers came." She added, "You don't die and come back to life and become, you know, you're not the same person."
A Heartfelt Reunion
In January, the Bears invited both Hart and McIntyre back to the stadium to be honored before a game against the Lions. The reunion was emotional for everyone involved.
"She was kind of speechless," McIntyre recalled. "She said, 'I don't know what to tell you other than thank you.'"
The Importance of Training
McIntyre, who stays sharp through regular police training, noted that the desire to help overrides everything, even football rivalries. When asked if he would save a Packers fan, he laughed and said, "Rivalry, we can put that aside. Just being able to help someone else is the key to why we do things."
Both Hart and McIntyre are now encouraging others to learn CPR, noting that being prepared can make the difference between life and death.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker
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