4 Officers Interrupt Meal to Revive Man

Four Los Angeles police officers on a dinner break rescued an 86-year-old man who lapsed into unconsciousness after choking on a piece of meat at a Van Nuys restaurant.

Louis Fisch of Van Nuys was treated and released from Medical Center of North Hollywood Wednesday night.

“These gentlemen really did save his life,” said Fisch’s wife, Beatrice. “I’m sure if we would have waited until the paramedics came he would not have lived.”

Officers Victor Colello, Victor Masi, Richard Luskleet and Robert Leahy were eating dinner at the Chris’ & Pitt’s of Van Nuys restaurant when a restaurant employee ran up and told them of the emergency.

“We were in the back room eating dinner and the waiter informed us that there was a man that was choking,” Colello said. “He didn’t have a pulse and he wasn’t breathing.” Colello performed the Heimlich Maneuver on Fisch, dislodging the piece of meat from his throat.

Leahy, with Colello assisting, performed CPR on the man. “He was breathing and conscious by the time the paramedics came,” Colello said of Fisch.

The officers are all assigned to a San Fernando Valley gangs unit.