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Man Saved After Going Into Cardiac Arrest At Putnam County Golf Course

CARMEL, N.Y. -- Robert “Bob” Beggs, a 78-year-old Riverdale, N.J., resident, was playing a round of golf at Putnam County Golf Course in Mahopac on Tuesday, July 14 when he went into cardiac arrest at the 16th hole.

County Executive MaryEllen Odell and Commissioner Anthony Sutton met with the staff of the Putnam County Golf Course and the friends of Robert Beggs to thank them for their valiant actions that helped save Robert Begg’s life.

County Executive MaryEllen Odell and Commissioner Anthony Sutton met with the staff of the Putnam County Golf Course and the friends of Robert Beggs to thank them for their valiant actions that helped save Robert Begg’s life.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Daniel Cocozza of Danbury, Conn., who was part of Beggs’ foursome, immediately started to administer CPR to his friend. Cocozza, who coached baseball in the past, was trained in CPR.

James Gilchrist Jr., a staff member of the golf course saw what was happening and went to the club. He notified David Solomon, assistant Golf Operations manager at the golf course, and also called 9-1-1.

Solomon assessed the situation and had Mike McCall, general manager of golf course, bring out the AED out from the clubhouse. Solomon, who is a retired physical education teacher from the Bronx, then took over for Cocozza, applying the AED and administering one shock per the device's direction.

“When I got out there, he was blue and had no pulse,” said Solomon. “After I used the AED on him, he started breathing on his own. Then after about 30 seconds he stopped.” Solomon then continued with CPR. "We had to give him a second shock from the AED and then he started breathing on his own again,” said Solomon.

Within seven to eight minutes of the 9-1-1 call, the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department and a Transcare Ambulance were on the scene. Paramedic Tracy Lombardo took command. “She was spectacular,” said Solomon. “She came right in and took over the situation. We were relieved and she worked with the EMS workers to get Mr. Beggs into the ambulance and to the [Putnam hospital [Center].”

Lombardo, a seasoned paramedic with more than 26 years of training under her belt and seven years at TransCare, credits the staff at Putnam County Golf Course with saving Beggs life.

“Those people on the golf course saved that man,” said Lombardo. “There were right where they needed to be. It was like the planets aligned and the angels sang.”

Frank Tomasulo of Somers, who was also a member of Beggs’ foursome, commended the golf course staff also.

“Kudos to the general manager and the staff.” said Tomasulo, whose foursome has a regular tee time at the golf course every Tuesday morning. “They were amazing. They came out and did what they needed to do without a gap in anything happening. Without them we would not have had a happy ending.”

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell recognized the heroic efforts of Cocozza and the golf course staff on Friday, July 17.

“You never know when something like this is going to happen and it is like Mr. Beggs bought the winning lottery ticket,” said Odell. “The right people were here at the right time to save his life. I am so proud of Mike McCall, Dave Solomon and Jimmy Gilchrist Jr. and the rest of the staff at Putnam Golf Course.”

Odell is working with Sutton and McCall to ensure that the golf course is ready for any future medical incidents.

Beggs has recovered and is relaxing at his home in New Jersey.

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