By Renee Berg
The Free Press
MANKATO, Minn. 鈥� Dianne Smith describes Bob Roelofs as a hero, though he disagrees.
Smith鈥檚 husband, Peter Smith, woke up early on Sept. 7 and knew something was wrong. The Mapleton man dialed 911 and told the operator he needed help before unlocking the front door and passing out in his recliner.
A few minutes later, Mapleton police officer Roelofs arrived.
Peter was dead upon arrival from cardiac arrest 鈥� he wasn鈥檛 breathing and had no pulse, Roelofs said. The officer performed CPR until the Mapleton Fire and Rescue squad arrived and they then worked in tandem to bring back Smith.
鈥淲hen I arrived, he was sitting in his chair with the phone in his lap,鈥� Roelofs said. 鈥淗e was in a cardiac arrest state with the dispatcher still on the phone, but he obviously couldn鈥檛 talk.鈥�
He was shocked a handful of times with a defibrillator before he came to and then was transported to Mayo Health System in Mankato, where he spent a week recovering.
Dianne was at the couple鈥檚 Arizona home when her husband nearly died. She flew back the same day, arriving at the hospital to find him looking 鈥渧ery, very weak and tired. I could tell he was on painkillers and, with the CPR, he had broken ribs. It was very painful for him.鈥�
Peter still attends cardiac rehabilitation three afternoons a week in Mankato. He and Dianne credit Roelofs and the Mapleton Fire and Rescue squad with saving his life.
鈥淲e are grateful to live in such a kind and caring community,鈥� Dianne said. 鈥淲e all need to remember that heroes live and walk among us. Officer Roelofs is at the top of our list of heroes with Mapleton Fire and Rescue following as a close second.鈥�
If Roelofs had arrived any later, it would鈥檝e likely been too late, she said. 鈥淚f you have no heartbeat for 5 to 7 minutes and you鈥檙e 76 years old, that鈥檚 probably the end I would say.鈥�
Now, Peter has more time with family, he said. The couple has three kids and eight grandkids.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty awesome,鈥� Roelofs said, adding he鈥檚 seen Peter twice since that fateful night. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting to see. A lot of times you hope for the best, but you don鈥檛 get the best. But this was one of those times when everyone feels good. It鈥檚 a team effort to do something like this. A lot of times it doesn鈥檛 turn out like this. That鈥檚 very, very true.鈥�
In October, Smith gave Roelofs a police flag to thank him for saving his life.
鈥淚鈥檝e been to a few saves,鈥� Roelofs said. 鈥淔ive or six times we鈥檝e been able to bring somebody back. It doesn鈥檛 happen very often. A lot of times it isn鈥檛 a successful story.鈥�
It was Peter鈥檚 second brush with death. He was shot twice at close range while serving in Vietnam in 1968 and received a Purple Heart for his duty, Dianne said. He spent 14 months in hospitals recovering and underwent many surgeries.
As for his recent save, Peter said he鈥檚 thankful to be alive.
鈥淥fficer Roelofs saved my life. He鈥檚 a wonderful man and a dedicated policeman. I鈥檓 just so thankful to him and everybody who supported me.鈥�
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