Thursday, October 1, 2026
When a Lawrence Yacht and Country Club member suffered a heart attack on the golf course July 24, fellow members Greg Jackman and Karyn Edelstein did not hesitate to respond.
Jackman, an East Rockaway resident and FDNY battalion chief for 25 years, and Edelstein immediately began performing CPR and using an automated external defibrillator.
Jackman was playing the first hole when he noticed a commotion near the first green, close to the trees and in a shaded area.
As the golf cart moved closer, Jackman realized someone was in serious trouble.
“I said, somebody’s in trouble. They need help,” he said. “So, I ran off the cart. I ran myself over there and said, ‘Can I help?’”
Edelstein was already assisting and told Jackman she needed his help.
“Both of us just, you know, what we were trained to do, it just kicks in second nature,” he said.
The two checked the man and found that he had no pulse and was not breathing. Jackman said the man’s lips had begun turning blue.
“There was no choice but to start CPR,” he said.
Edelstein began rescue breathing while Jackman took responsibility for chest compressions. The two performed two-person CPR as other members arrived with an AED.
“Thank God we had an AED,” Jackman said.
A member of Hatzalah and members of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department subsequently arrived and continued the emergency response. Firefighters eventually took over CPR.
Jackman said the response was a true team effort, with each person contributing whatever training and skills they had.
“It was truly, like, teamwork,” he said. “Everybody’s training just kicks in. I really didn’t have time to think about it.”
The outcome made the effort particularly meaningful. Jackman said he later learned that the man, whom he identified as Mark, had been taken off a ventilator and was expected to recover.
“It just makes me feel great,” Jackman said. “Honestly, at work, we’ve done this so many times, and if you’re not there right away, they really say time is of the essence.”
Despite his extensive experience responding to emergencies as a firefighter, Jackman said he does not view himself as the only person who could have stepped in.
“If it wasn’t me and any of the other guys that were here that are other firemen, they would have done the same thing,” he said.
Ultimately, Jackman said he was simply grateful that he happened to be nearby when the emergency occurred.
“I’m just thankful that he has another chance at life,” he said. “I’m just glad I was there.”
The Village of Lawrence recently recognized the two members for their life-saving actions, with Mayor Samuel Nahmias presenting Jackman and Edelstein with proclamations on behalf of the village.
“We’re very grateful that we have people here at the club that are dedicated, that can actually act very quickly, and then have the background to save someone’s life,” Nahmias said.
Nahmias said the quick response demonstrated the value of having people in the community with the training and experience to act during a life-threatening emergency.
“You save one life, you save a world,” he added. “People have kids, people have family, people have siblings. You’re saving an entire world when you save one life.”
