Suffolk officers reunite with elderly dancing ‘ladies man’ they saved after a heart attack at town senior picnic

A 73-year-old senior from Long Island, known as “ladies man” Lenny Muzzillo, celebrated a miraculous reunion with the Suffolk County heroes who revived him following a cardiac arrest during the Brookhaven Senior Picnic a month ago.

While dancing with two women simultaneously, Muzzillo experienced a sudden heart failure. His life was saved by a Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy and two correction officers, who administered CPR for ten minutes until an ambulance arrived.

“It’s rare to have the chance to meet the individuals who saved your life,” Muzzillo mentioned as he greeted Deputy Dylan Hever and correction officers Sean Higgins and Travis Yacovone, who were accompanied by Sheriff Errol Toulon.

“These gentlemen are like angels,” Muzzillo’s sister, Diane Summerfold, said warmly as she embraced the lifesavers, Deputy Hever and correction officers Higgins and Yacovone.

She humorously remarked that her brother’s dance partners must have truly taken his breath away and shared that Muzzillo was walking again just days after undergoing emergency quadruple bypass surgery.

“It’s a miracle,” she exclaimed, noting that doctors cleared the blockages in his arteries and declared him healthy enough to return to dancing. 

Muzzillo expressed feeling “terrific” post-surgery, extending his thanks to the officers who helped him during the crisis. 

“Let’s celebrate with a wedding!” Muzzillo joked when asked how he was feeling while reporters and his rescuers gathered in his living room.

Officer Higgins, stationed at the picnic, was the first to react and immediately began chest compressions when Muzzillo collapsed at a table.

Hever and Yacovone, present for the event, quickly joined in to assist, as officials provided CPR until Muzzillo regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital.

“Having performed CPR numerous times, this was the first occasion I was able to truly revive someone,” Hever stated, expressing his emotions after reconnecting with Muzzillo.

After awakening, Muzzillo described feeling disoriented, unaware that he had passed out once his heart was restarted.