ICYMI: Georgia STUNNER—CBP Heroes Revive DYING Woman at Atlanta Airport!
Quick-thinking CBP officers at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia save a South Carolina woman’s life after a sudden collapse. 🌐 #News #AtlantaGA #Georgia #Rescue
ATLANTA, GA – Chaos erupted at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia when a 74-year-old woman from South Carolina crumpled to the ground moments after stepping off a flight from Johannesburg, South Africa. The dramatic scene unfolded on January 5, just past 8 a.m., near the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection zone. Two fast-acting officers sprang into action, turning a dire moment into a story of survival.
Emergency Strikes Without Warning
Mary Mallette, a Charleston, S.C., resident, had just arrived in the U.S. when her body gave out near the CBP primary inspection area.
A sharp-eyed supervisor, Joe Manor, spotted her fall and rushed to her side. Seconds later, CBP officer Billy Graham joined him, grabbing emergency gear and summoning Atlanta Fire and Rescue.
The situation escalated fast.
Mallette slipped into unconsciousness, her pulse vanishing, her breathing stopped. Graham launched into CPR while Manor deployed an automatic external defibrillator (AED). Their efforts paid off—Mallette’s pulse flickered back, and she started breathing again just as paramedics screeched onto the scene.
Blink of Hope
With Mallette too weak to speak, Graham improvised a simple communication system. He asked her to blink once for “no” and twice for “yes,” piecing together her condition as emergency crews took over.
Her survival hung on the officers’ rapid response and cool-headed precision.
“Military combat life-saver training and concurrent retraining by CBP EMT’s was instrumental in our life saving response,” said Graham, a 22-year Army veteran, reflecting on the skills that made the difference.
Hospital Reunion
Later, at the family’s request, Manor and Graham visited Mallette and her sister in the hospital. CBP-released photos captured the officers at her bedside, a quiet follow-up to the high-stakes rescue. She remained under medical care, her recovery a direct result of their intervention.
“Customs and Border Protection officers are trained for many responses,” said John Quintana, Acting Atlanta Area Port Director.
“Their life-saving actions are a testament to the service and care CBP delivers.”
The January incident at Georgia’s busiest airport showcased the unexpected role CBP officers can play—beyond border security, they became lifesavers in a heartbeat.
RELATED TOPICS: Airports | Georgia | Rescues | South Carolina
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