On Jan. 18, Greenawalds resident Tim Herrlinger suffered a widow-maker heart attack.

His wife, Debra, recognized the emergency, called 911 and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. Debra is CPR-certified.

When firefighter-EMTs from the Greenawalds Fire Department arrived, they took over lifesaving efforts. Using an automated external defibrillator, or AED, responders administered four shocks before restoring Tim’s pulse.

Herrlinger was transported by Cetronia Ambulance Corps to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with a widow-maker heart attack, a severe blockage of a major coronary artery that is often fatal if not treated immediately.

On June 15, the Herrlingers and family members gathered at the Greenawalds Fire Station to celebrate Tim’s recovery and honor the firefighters who responded to the emergency. South Whitehall Township officials presented the firefighters with a citation recognizing their lifesaving efforts.

Township officials attending the event included board of commissioners president Jacob Roth, commissioners Diane Kelly and Sharon Fehlinger-Ricker, and township manager Tom Petrucci.

Citation recipients were Mark Kleibscheidel, rescue captain; Mike DePrill, engine captain; Gavin DePrill, junior firefighter; Adam Garger, assistant chief; Andrew Garger, fire chief; and Jared Tellechea, squad captain.