Watch CBS News

Connecticut Man Dies While Shoveling Roof, First Responders Finish Job

MANCHESTER, Conn. (CBS/AP) — First responders who tried to save a man's life when he collapsed while shoveling snow off his roof returned to finish the work after he died.

Fire Chief David Billings identified the man as Miroslaw Dabrowski. The 57-year-old Dabrowski suffered a heart attack.

His wife, Teresa Dabrowski, said he was born in Poland and emigrated to the U.S. in 1982. He worked as a carpenter.

The emergency call came in at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. Police officer Bernie Hallums said he and other officers climbed to the roof and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He was declared dead at Manchester Hospital.

Later that morning, Hallums and other officers and firefighters returned to the house to finish removing snow from the roof.

Firefighters in our area are also doing good. A firefighting nonprofit group is stepping up in our area to help to victims of fire by giving them gift cards, along with a little hope.

The nonprofit California Fire Foundation is rolling out a new program called Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency, or SAVE. Incident commanders at the scene of a residential fire can make one phone call, activate a $100 gift card and give it to a family.

"You've put out their fire; you've tried to collect their belongings, but at the end of the day, these fire engines go back to work, and really you feel at a loss," said West Sacramento Fire Chief Rick Martinez.

More than 40 departments in California are already participating in the program. The foundation's goal is to get every department on board. It's completely funded by donations, most of which come from firefighters themselves.

"It really offers, for the people we serve, some hope. And for us, a feeling that we're doing something that matters," Martinez said.

Fire departments give out the SAVE cards to families whose homes are at least 25 percent lost by fire or natural disaster.

Since August, more than 100 cards have been handed out.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or Redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.