Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Overture Block Captains Kent and Lisa McIntosh had just arrived at their hotel in Flagstaff when they received a forwarded call on their cell phone from an elderly neighbor, asking them to "come to my house." Lisa reminded the neighbor that they were in Flagstaff and were unable to come to his home in Anthem. After no response, she handed the phone to her husband who was unable to understand the older gentleman. After being disconnected, the couple tried calling the neighbor back and became worried when there was no answer. They feared something was wrong.

After calling several friends and other neighbors to no avail, the McIntosh's called 911 and explained their situation to the Flagstaff dispatcher, who then attempted to transfer them to the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office (MCSO). They were disconnected. Remembering she had the MCSO's number with her, she called them and gave them the neighbor's home phone number, which they in turn used to locate the house. Within minutes, MCSO and the Daisy Mountain Fire Department (DMFD) were at the neighbor's home, where he answered the door.

Approximately an hour later, the McIntosh's received a call from MCSO Sergeant Goodman who informed them that they had saved their neighbor's life. When the officers arrived, their neighbor explained he was experiencing stomach and back pains - signs of a heart attack. DMFD Paramedic David Duarte suggested they monitor him and discovered that he had a blockage. Had the McIntosh's not called for help, their neighbor could have suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. But because they were concerned neighbors, the elderly man was saved just in time to have triple bypass surgery. Doctors say he will be back to normal in a few weeks.

Special thanks go to MCSO Sergeant Goodman and DMFD Paramedic Duarte.