Chief, deputy save life of Highland man, 66

 A 66-year-old Highland Township man was resuscitated Sunday, Nov. 18 after collapsing in the 3000 block of Grandview, where fire destroyed a garage and threatened neighboring structures.

Highland firefighters responding around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday to a garage fire found the building fully engulfed in flames, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities said a male neighbor was speaking to a Sheriff’s Department deputy and Highland Township Fire Chief James Crunk when the man suffered an apparent heart attack.

“While speaking to him, he began losing balance, his legs buckled and he fell to the ground,” a deputy stated in an incident report. The deputy stated he immediately went to the man’s side to render first aid and was joined by Crunk. They were unable to find a pulse. Crunk then began administering CPR as the deputy ran to his vehicle and retrieved a defibrillator. They then administered at least two “shocks” with the defibrillator as firefighters provided oxygen to the man, who was transported to DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township, where he arrived breathing but initially unresponsive.

Sheriff’s Department officials said the man’s condition was improving.

The fire is under investigation by the Highland Fire Department and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.