Middletown officer, security guard cited for rescue of 88-year-old fire victim
MIDDLETOWN NJ December 20 2018 – Two men — a township police officer and a private security officer —have been recognized for their heroism at the scene of a fire Saturday night at Shadow Lake Village.
Patrolman Nicholas Manochio and Keith Thornton received the Life Saving Award at the Township Committee meeting Monday night. Their quick actions saved the life of an 88-year-old woman who was trapped inside her burning home at 54 Friendship Court.
Thornton, 31, of Asbury Park, is employed by Marion Security in Red Bank.
He received a report of a fire around 7:20 p.m. Saturday.
Arriving at the scene, he spoke to a 91-year-old man outside the home who said his wife was still inside the smoke-filled structure, police said.
Thornton entered the home and found the woman lying on the kitchen floor. He began to move her toward the door but was overcome by smoke and had to exit the house to get fresh air, police said.
By that time Patrolman Nicholas Manochio had arrived at the scene. Hearing from Thornton that the woman was still inside, Manochio entered the home and got her out safely, police said.
Both the woman and her husband were transferred to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank where they were treated for smoke inhalation.
The woman was later transferred to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, for additional treatment.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
APP News
