MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – “She has a heartbeat, honey.” With these simple words, there was a sigh of relief after an AtlantiCare emergency medical technician counted the pulse of a 1-week-old baby who had stopped breathing.
A frantic 911 call from a Middle Township mother, whose baby was unconscious and unresponsive Nov. 28, led to a heroic resuscitation by a township police officer that was captured on his bodycam video.
Patrolman Chris Rudy of the Middle Township police jumped out of his car, took the baby from the mother and started performing CPR immediately, as the infant’s mother and relatives worriedly watched and waited for signs of life from the baby girl.
Cries of “Please, please, please” uttered by the mother can be heard on the video, as Rudy performed one round of CPR. The baby began to regain consciousness, and Rudy is heard saying “There you go” as he handed the baby over to the EMT. The EMT is seen counting the baby’s pulse on her fingers, and announcing, “We have a pulse. She has a heartbeat, honey.”
Middle Township police posted the bodycam video on their Facebook page, praising Rudy.
The baby was transported to Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Court House for further monitoring. Efforts to reach the parents were unsuccessful. Rudy declined to be interviewed.
On Facebook, Rudy’s father, also named Chris, wrote, “Very proud of my SON and the work he does. I’m honored to be your father. Your grandfather would be very proud of you.”
Rudy’s mother, Karen, also commented, saying, “I’m so proud of you Christopher. Amazing to see my son saving a life. This is one of the good days for all involved. Great team work first responders. God bless that baby all the rest of her days.”
Contact the reporter, Karen Knight, at kknight@cmcherald.com.
