HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. (AP) — A 32-year-old man is being credited with saving a woman’s life after performing CPR when she collapsed in a public area in the small waterfront town of Havre de Grace, authorities said.
The incident happened along a busy stretch of the town’s main street, where witnesses said the woman, believed to be in her mid-40s, suddenly fell to the ground and became unresponsive.
Bystanders gathered but were unsure how to respond until Marcus Bennett, a local resident with prior CPR training, stepped in.
Bennett quickly assessed the situation and determined the woman had no pulse, according to witnesses. He began performing CPR, administering chest compressions while instructing another bystander to call 911.
Emergency responders said Bennett continued CPR for several minutes before they arrived. The woman began showing signs of life shortly before paramedics took over care.
She was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition and is expected to recover, officials said.
Authorities said Bennett’s actions were critical in keeping the woman alive until emergency personnel arrived.
Medical experts say immediate CPR can double or triple survival chances when cardiac arrest occurs outside a hospital. Despite that, many people hesitate to intervene.
First responders emphasized the importance of taking action in such situations.
“Even basic chest compressions can make the difference between life and death,” a paramedic said.
Bennett declined to comment in detail but told witnesses at the scene he was “just doing what anyone should do” before leaving after emergency crews arrived.
Officials said no further information about the woman has been released.
