Despite Heroic Actions in NYC, PV Firefighter Remains Humble
COURTESY OF THE MTA
When Frank Rush III spoke to his son Frances IV on Jan. 23 over the phone, the 27-year-old told his father about his day in New York City. But one thing he left out in his short conversation with his father was easily the most important thing: He helped save a life that day.
Frances Rush IV was a critical reason why a 70-year-old man, Moises Dreszer who was visiting from Kentucky, was brought back to life when he collapsed inside Grand Central Terminal. Rush, a marine and also a volunteer Putnam Valley firefighter ran to the calls of the man’s wife, Cathy, and started to give Dreszer chest compressions as the police were called.
Once an MTA officer arrived with a defibrillator, Dreszer was brought back to life.
Despite the excitement, the whole scene wasn’t relayed from Frances Rush IV to Frank Rush III. Frank Rush, who works as a NYFD firefighter, actually found out about his son’s heroics from another MTA officer who knew the family.
“I called him back to see how his day was and he said, ‘We just had this conversation dad,’” Rush III said. “Tell me a little more about Grand Central, and then he just said to me “who said something?”
That one anecdote of heroics and humbleness sums up Francis Rush perfectly. Committed to public service, while never touting his own courage even when he has every reason to brag makes Rush IV a resident Putnam County can be proud of.
Rush IV could not be reached for an interview because he was in California related to duty as a Marine reservist, but in a New York Post article, Rush IV was quoted as saying this is the first person in four tries he was able to save when performing chest compressions.
Rush IV joined the Putnam Valley Volunteer Fire Department when he was 16, following in the footsteps on his father who fights fires for a profession. Around the firehouse often growing up, it’s no surprise to anyone that Rush IV would one day wanted to serve his community.
“He’s very humble and that a very important thing to be,” Rush III said. “He’s a solid young man and I’m very proud of him. He did what he was trained to do.”
Cathy Dreszer in a video posted by the MTA expressed appreciation to Rush and MTA officers for racing into action. She said called Rush “an angel.”
“A citizen of New York who just happened to be right behind us and stopped,” Cathy Dreszer said of Rush IV. “In his few minutes he changed the life of a whole family.”
Putnam Valley High School assistant principle and former legislator Sam Oliverio described Rush as a hard worker and a phenomenal guy.
“You could never meet a better representative of young people,” Oliverio said of Rush IV.
Knowing the Rush family for a long time, Oliverio said he isn’t surprised by Rush’s spring into action. He stated, “If someone were to ask me, who do you think in the Class of 2004 would go and save someone’s life, my answer would be Frankie Rush.”
While Rush IV has always been a man ready to serve at any given moment, he’s only just getting attention and recognition for it though he’s certainly not a fan of it.
“I don’t think so,” Rush III said with a laugh. “I don’t think he’s enjoying it. I know that he’s very happy that the best part of the story is the man is alive today and it’s through the efforts of my son Frank and the first responders that assisted as well.”
