01/13/2026
Lunch breaks save retired police officer’s life
Ellenville’s Paul Craft will share his story at the Hudson Valley Heart Walk
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., January 12, 2026 — On May 29, 2025, John Paulsen had taken his lunch break from Ellenville School a few minutes away at the home of his future in-laws, the Crafts. He had just headed back to school when he heard Stephanie Craft shouting for help.
Inside, Paul Craft, 60 years old, had collapsed. Stephanie called 911; John left his car in the street, ran back into the house and started CPR.
“Paul is a retired police officer, and was home,” Stephanie Craft said. “He was walking across the house and into the kitchen, and he bumped into the kitchen island. I was sitting at the kitchen table, and I looked up and watched him crash into the wall. I froze for a second, then screamed for John, and called 911.”
911 stayed on speaker with John as he did CPR, and within three minutes, two of Ellenville’s school resource officers, who had also been at lunch, arrived. They had a portable AED in their car and began using it on Paul.
“They had heard the 911 call, and when people heard ’60-year-old-male’ and the name of our street, they knew who it was,” Stephanie said. “It hit very close to home for everyone.”
The chief of the Ellenville Police Department had been on his way to Kingston when he heard the call and quickly arrived at the Crafts’ home. The ambulance also arrived quickly and took Paul to Ellenville Regional Hospital. Staff at Ellenville continued CPR and stabilized Paul Craft before transferring him via helicopter to Vassar Brothers.
“When he arrived at Vassar, he had another heart attack,” Paul’s daughter Carly said. “They took him right up to the cath lab and put in five stents.”
Paul Craft was in the ICU for about six days. Doctors implanted an Impella device to keep his blood moving and let his heart rest. While he was in the ICU, doctors needed to change Impella pumps to get the correct size to prevent damage to his red blood cells. After two days with the second pump, his heart began working correctly.
But after leaving the ICU for the cardiac step-down unit, fluid built up around Paul’s heart and required a drain, lengthening his hospital stay by another week. From there, he went to the acute care unit at Garnet Health for six days.
On June 24, Paul Craft returned home, and on July 4, he rode in the lead car at Ellenville’s Fourth of July parade. He also completed six weeks of cardiac rehab at Ellenville Regional Hospital after returning home.
Today, he’s back at his post-retirement job managing the golf course in Ellenville.
Best of all? On Nov. 15, he walked his daughter Abbe down the aisle at her wedding.
Paul’s story will be featured at the Hudson Valley Heart Walk on Saturday, April 25, at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. To register, visit www.dutchessulsterheartwalk.org.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
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