Deputy, teens save man's life

By Ken Kosky | Wednesday, April 08, 2009 JACKSON TOWNSHIP |

A Porter County Sheriff's Department deputy saved the life of an elderly man who collapsed right in front of him Friday night.
Sgt. Timothy Emmons performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to administer five or six shocks to restart the heart of the man, Keith Lakin, 81, of rural Chesterton. The last shock restored Lakin's pulse and he was rushed to Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus.
Emmons went to the hospital later and learned Lakin regained consciousness and was in fair condition
"I'm really happy with the way it turned out, especially when I got to meet the family (at the hospital)," Emmons said.
Emmons said he's been involved in saving a couple other lives during his 26-year police career, but nothing as dramatic as this one.
The rescue occurred when Emmons responded to a trespassing complaint on Lakin's property and the NIPSCO right-of-way east of Chesterton.
Emmons said he walked several hundred yards into a wooded area and saw a truck stuck in the mud and saw a man, later determined to be Lakin, yelling at eight to 10 teens. Lakin told Emmons that people have repeatedly driven in his field and damaged it. Then Lakin suddenly fell face down onto the ground.
Many of the teens fled, but four remained.
Emmons determined Lakin wasn't breathing and had no pulse, so he started CPR while the teens ran to his police car to retrieve his AED. Emmons said he used the AED to deliver five or six shocks, the last of which worked. The teens also directed Liberty Township firefighters and Porter hospital medics to the site.
Emmons credits the teens who stayed, and the responding firefighters and medics, with helping to save Lakin's life. The teens were not arrested because the investigation indicates they were out helping the other teens who caused damage and got stuck. The investigation continues.