36-year-old Massachusetts officer recognized for saving woman’s life, dies tragically

A Massachusetts officer that was recognized for saving a woman’s life earlier this year has died.

36-year-old Ryan Kennedy tragically and suddenly passed away on Monday, according to an obituary.

According to those who knew him, Kennedy served as a Cavalry Scout in the United States Army from 2012 to 2016 before being hired by the Hampden County Sheriff’s office as a Corrections Officer where he worked for seven years until his death.

The Hampden County Sheriff’s office stated that Kennedy and his partner Nicholas Husovsky were honored in May and presented an award from Hampshire County EMS and Ellen Metzger, the Hampshire County woman they helped revive. She referred to officers Kennedy and Husovsky as her “angels,” as she thanked them in person.

Around 9:30 p.m. on April 20, officers Kennedy and Husovsky were driving back to the main institution in Ludlow after bringing an inmate to the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office. While driving on Route 9 in Williamsburg in Hampshire County, they saw a car off the road and crashed into a tree.

They pulled over to investigate and found a female, later identified as Metzger, unresponsive with a purplish hue to her skin, slouched over the center console. The doors were locked so the officers broke a window to be able to pull her from the car.

Since she was without a pulse, they began chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing. After about 5 minutes, the fire chief arrived with an AED and with one shock was able to get a pulse back.

Metzger was saddened to hear of Kennedy’s death.
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“This is such very sad news. I am devastated with the loss of this man who saved my life. I will forever be connected to Ryan. My deepest condolences to his family and friends and all at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. With love and gratitude, I wish you peace Ryan.”

Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi had a heavy heart as he shared his thoughts on the sudden loss.

“Ryan, you will be forever missed, but NEVER forgotten. We extend our love, prayers, thoughts, and condolences to all of Ryan’s family, friends and colleagues. Rest easy Ryan, we will take it from here.”

A cause of death was not released.