Trending Topics

Former N.Y. EMT performs CPR, saves customer’s life during tractor pickup

Colin Wall, a volunteer firefighter and former EMT, used CPR to revive an unresponsive man while picking up equipment just before Christmas

602350493_1472585251540207_52576.jpg

Colin Wall presented with a New York State Assembly Citation for his extraordinary act of heroism

Assemblyman Michael Cashman/Facebook

By Libby Queguiner
The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — What began as a routine service call just days before Christmas turned into a life-saving act of heroism for Dragoon’s Farm Equipment technician Colin Wall.

Colin was dispatched to pick up a Cub Cadet tractor from a customer’s home, an assignment he wouldn’t normally have taken. The shop’s regular driver had just left for the day, and Service Manager Rick Bosley asked Colin to step in. That unexpected change in plans would soon prove critical.

When Colin arrived at the customer’s garage, he immediately felt something was wrong.

As he stepped inside, his eyes began to burn. On the floor, he saw the homeowner, Thomas Brown, lying unresponsive. Colin quickly checked for breathing and a pulse. There were none. Relying on his previous experience as an EMT and his current role as a volunteer firefighter with the Ellenburg Fire Department, Colin immediately began CPR. His quick actions revived Thomas, restoring his breathing. Once Thomas regained respirations, Colin alerted Thomas’s wife, and 911 was called.

Emergency responders arrived and took over care, and Thomas was transported for further medical treatment. Thanks to Colin’s fast thinking and training, what could have been a tragic outcome became a true Christmas miracle.

Not long after, Thomas Brown stopped by Dragoon’s Farm Equipment in person to express his gratitude. He thanked Colin for saving his life and also recognized Service Manager Rick Bosley for sending Colin on the call that day — a decision that made all the difference.

As the holiday season reminds us of hope, compassion and the importance of looking out for one another, this remarkable story stands as a powerful reminder that heroes often appear when we least expect them, sometimes in the form of a technician answering an unexpected service call.

Trending
The review includes stricter thresholds for federal disaster declarations, direct state payments within 30 days and one-time survivor aid in place of long-term housing support
A Goldendoodle therapy dog with AMR Western New York, supports EMTs and paramedics coping with trauma, stress and burnout in one of the region’s busiest EMS systems
A new report warns that cuts tied to the Big Beautiful Bill could push nearly 100 rural hospitals toward closure, increasing transport times and straining EMS systems
Passengers from the MV Hondius were flown home to more than 20 countries after a hantavirus outbreak linked to three deaths and multiple suspected infections

© 2025 the Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, N.Y.). Visit pressrepublican.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Company News
Partnership helps agencies improve equipment tracking, inspection documentation, and lifecycle management for personal protective equipment (PPE)