Two Fall River police officers reunite with family after saving life of 20-year-old while off duty

Two Fall River police officers are being commended after saving a young man while off duty.

According to the Fall River Police Department, on January 28, 2024, Officers Guy Furtado and Garrett Nelson were enjoying a relaxing day off on the slopes at Okemo Mountain Resort. After their group decided to call it quits and head into the ski lodge, the two off duty police officers decided to take one final run on the slopes. It turned out to be a run they will never forget.

As they made their way down the black diamond trail, they encountered something unexpected. 45-year-old William Polzun Jr. of Manchester, CT was frantically screaming for help. As it turned out, Polzun’s son, 20-year-old Nathan, collapsed while making what was also their last run of the day. After hearing Polzun Jr.’s screams for help, Officers Furtado and Nelson quickly made their way over to assess the situation. Finding Nathan unresponsive with no pulse, Officer Nelson quickly called 911 to alert the ski patrol as Officer Furtado began life saving CPR.

Today, the men were reunited at the Fall River Police Department Headquarters. Polzun Jr., while overcome with emotion stated that his son is “only alive today because of the quick action of these two superheroes”

As he recounted the events, Polzun Jr. stated that when his son collapsed on the trail, he remembers seeing his lifeless body in the snow. He immediately panicked and began screaming for help. Suddenly, he heard a calm voice say, “I’ll do the compressions, and hold his head while you give the breaths”. As Officer Guy Furtado walked him through administering rescue breaths, Officer Garrett Nelson provided key details to the responding ski patrol and additional advanced life support to give Nathan a fighting chance.

While Nathan Polzun states he has no recollection of that day’s events, he credits Officers Furtado and Nelson for saving his life. Both men say that Nathan is on the road to recovery, and they hope to share the slopes with Officers Furtado and Nelson next year once Nathan receives medical clearance.

As this reunion took place, the officers stood and listened with humility as Polzun Jr. spoke about their heroic efforts. They exchanged handshakes, hugs, and contact information, hoping for a reunion on the slopes.