New State Police Member Meets Trooper Who Saved His Life 32 Years Ago
BOSTON (CBS) – Over 30 years ago, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Al Balestra helped save the life of an infant named Philip Kucha.
After recently becoming a State Police trooper himself, Kucha was reunited with the man who rescued him decades ago.
On October 18, 1983, Kucha suffered a medical emergency at Logan Airport.
Balestra was working that day. He was told an ambulance would take an extended amount of time to reach the airport.
So Balestra put Kucha and his mother into his police cruiser, put on the lights and siren and rushed them to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Kucha survived, and 32 years later he graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Acadmy.
After his graduation from the academy, Kucha had the chance to meet Balestra.
"Trooper Philip Kucha recently graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree and was honored to shake the hand of the man that saved his life as it was just beginning," State Police said.
