Teenager, police officer help save man’s life at car wash

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — According to his doctors, Eddie Fortuna was clinically dead for 14 minutes.

But, thanks to the swift actions of a teenager and a police officer, the 55-year-old survived.

Richard Blackwell, 13, of Oak Park sprang into action when Fortuna collapsed at a car wash on Harper Avenue between Cottrell Street and 15 Mile Road. According to Blackwell, he and his cousin Lamar had just pulled in when they saw Fortuna on July 13.

“My cousin Lamar flipped him over and he saw the blood coming down his head,” Blackwell said at an Aug. 1 press conference at the Clinton Township Police Department. “Then we saw officer Collins and we ran to go get him.”

Blackwell flagged down Clinton Township Police Department Sgt. Richard Collins, telling him he saw an unresponsive man at a car wash.

“On July 13, Richard saw a man lying on the ground and he was aware of his surroundings,” Collins said at the press conference. “He had the courage to step in and made a difference in Mr. Fortuna’s life.”

When Collins made it to the scene, around 5 p.m., Fortuna was unresponsive. He didn’t have a pulse, and he wasn’t breathing. Collins rendered CPR and, after a minute, noticed Fortuna’s heart was beating once again. The Clinton Township Fire Department arrived shortly after to transport Fortuna to the hospital. After that, Collins found Blackwell to tell him that he helped save someone’s life.

“We gave each other a fist bump and I could see the look on his face, and he just started glowing,” Collins said.

Collins said the experience stood out.

“In 24 years of doing this, this is probably one of the most compelling things that has happened to me on this job,” Collins said.

Clinton Township Fire Chief John Gallagher said the township’s Fire Department responded in 38 seconds with a rig that was in the area, once the call was put out.

“We could not be more proud of the response to this call for service,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher presented Fortuna with a cardiac arrest survivor coin at the press conference.

Collins was presented with the lifesaving non-perilous award by the Clinton Township Police Department.

Blackwell was presented with a citizen lifesaving award by the Clinton Township Police Department. He was joined at the press conference by his parents and members of his extended family.

“To Richard’s mother and pops, thanks for putting young Richard in that spot that day,” Clinton Township Police Operations Capt. Anthony Coppola said at the event.

Fortuna spoke at the event, calling Blackwell “a true superhero.”

“Your swift actions snatched me back from death and gave me a second chance at life,” Fortuna said. “Thanks to your bravery and selflessness, you are a true guardian angel, a superhero among young men and women. I hope your courageous example will inspire others in crisis.

“Thank you for a second chance,” Fortuna said. “I’ll make sure I do good with it.”