As NBC25 went live with an update on the race between Republican John Kupiec and long time incumbent Democrat Dale Kildee for the 5th Congressional District house seat, the election remained too close to call. Then suddenly, one member of the NBC25 news team witnessed a close call.
“I was out there making sure our live shot was happening,” said NBC25 engineer John Altz. “From my angle I could see someone lying on the ground.”
Altz wasn’t sure what was going on, but said he could tell the woman needed help. He abandoned the live shot, trusting all would go well, and ran to her aid.
“I figured I better jump in because everybody else was kind of in shock of what they were going to do.”
When he got up to the woman he found her laying face down on the ground unresponsive.
“So I grabbed her, turned her over, and as I did that a piece of food dislodged from her mouth.”
A doctor in the crowd soon came to help. Dale Kildee campaign volunteer Easter Hall started breathing again and thanked John for his help. She explained she had been enjoying a pork sandwich when she choked on the food, couldn’t breath, and then collapsed.
The 65-year-old grandmother of 29 says her family had told her to stay home that evening because she hadn’t been feeling well, but she wanted to be a part of the campaign excitement. She certainly got her share of it on live television.
