VENTURA : Former Nurse Saves Life of Housemate

A former nurse saved the life of her 41-year-old housemate in Ventura by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until firefighters could arrive with oxygen, a Ventura Fire Department firefighter said.

Connie Rodewald, who had been a nurse for about 20 years, rushed to the aid of her housemate Thursday after she heard a loud clunking noise in the bathroom, said Ventura firefighter Barry Simmons.

Rodewald tried the bathroom door, found it locked, and entered through the bathroom’s rear entrance to find Gary Hensley on the floor and blue in the face, Simmons said. “She was just the perfect person to be there,” Simmons said. “She knew just what to do.”

Hensley’s breathing had stopped, but his heart was still beating when Rodewald started resuscitation, Simmons said. Hensley was unconscious when firefighters arrived at 7:54 a.m., but came to once he started breathing in the oxygen. “She basically saved his life,” Simmons said.

Simmons said Hensley’s mother had given him several of her prescription pain killers the night before after he complained of back pain.