‘Thankful he’s alive’: Saint John police chief issues commendations for life-saving efforts

Scott Shillington was watching an NFL football game on the evening of Nov. 25 with his wife Jennifer.

He had no idea what was about to happen to him.

“Halftime comes and she went upstairs and I just kind of went to sleep and I woke up the next day,” said Shillington.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Halftime comes and she went upstairs and I just kind of went to sleep and I woke up the next day," said Shillington.

Shillington woke up in the hospital, having lived through a cardiac event that has a five per cent survival rate.

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Jennifer, who is a licensed practical nurse, performed CPR for the first time on her husband when she discovered him downstairs.

“He wasn’t breathing and his face was purple so I started doing compressions and yelled at my son who heard and then he called 911,” Shillington explained.

Saint John Police Const. Derek Scaplen was on duty and only seconds away and relieved an exhausted and panic-stricken Jennifer.

“He took over until the paramedics got there and he helped save his life,” Shillington said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He took over until the paramedics got there and he helped save his life," Shillington said.

Scaplen was recognized with the Chief’s Commendation for his decisive actions. Scaplen says he is very grateful for his training, something he compares to insurance.

Chief Bruce Connell says this particular incident shows how law enforcement is just a very small part of policing.

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“Derek’s there and he’s there with his bare hands,” explained Connell.

“So he has his hands and what God’s given him to help out.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "So he has his hands and what God's given him to help out."

Jennifer Shillington’s life-saving actions were also recognized with a letter of commendation and many thanks from a happy husband.

“Everybody that intervened that night … they all did such a great job, it’s unreal,” Scott Shillington said. “We’re just very thankful he’s alive,” Jennifer added.

After some CPR-induced broken ribs and quadruple bypass surgery, Shillington is now basically no worse for wear.