Politics & Government

Fair Haven Resident Saves Senior's Life

Red Bank borough employee Doug Lang assisted a fallen senior who suffered a significant injury.

Thanks to lifetime Fair Havenite Doug Lang, Muriel DeFazio said, simply, she's still here.

On Wednesday, Lang, a Red Bank Public Works Department employee, was honored with a proclamation at the borough council meeting for his role in potentially helping save the 88-year-old's life. His quick action and dedication to serving the community, the proclamation stated, helped resolve a situation that could have been much worse.

The incident took place in June. Returning home from a day of work, Lang spotted a prone and bleeding DeFazio, who had recently fallen outside of her Oakland Street home.

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Lang rushed to help DeFazio, who had suffered a laceration to the back of her head and was bleeding, and asked several times if she would like medical attention. She declined vociferously, a point she made sure to emphasize at the meeting.

Though she refused further medical treatment as she and Lang worked to stopped the bleeding, giving assurances that she would be OK, Lang determined that further assistance was needed and walked to the nearby home of DeFazio's relatives to relay his concerns.

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The injury was significant enough, her son and former Red Bank Police Capt. Peter DeFazio said, that she had to spend three weeks in the hospital recovering.

"I don't know what would have happened had he not been there," Peter DeFazio said prior to the start of the meeting.

The borough recognized Lang's good work and instructed that a copy of the resolution be placed in his personnel file. Lang accepted the resolution and stood side by side with DeFazio. 

His comment about the incident was as simple as DeFazio's recognition of his impeccable timing.  

"I'm just glad I was there at the time," he said.


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