2 LAPD Officers Credited With Saving Life Of 83-Year-Old Woman

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Two LAPD officers who patrol the Topanga area are being hailed as heroes for helping save the life of a 83-year-old woman.

On Friday, around 1:30 p.m. officers Paul Maldonado and Kurt Logan were flagged down by an employee of a pizza restaurant in the 6200 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Ruth Steinberg was dining with friends at the Original Pizza Cookery in Woodland Hills when she began choking. (Early reports said the woman was 75.)

When they entered the establishment, they found the woman on the ground unconscious and unresponsive. They began administering life-saving CPR.

Maldonado, a former reserve fireman, said, "To see an elderly woman on the floor not breathing you just want to do all you can do to get her back alive." Officer Logan added, "She had no pulse. It was worse than we expected when we first got there."

Paramedics transported the woman to a nearby hospital where she was revived and able to breathe on her own.

Officials say Steinberg is still hospitalized but recovering

Los Angeles City Fire Captain Jeff Easton hailed the quick action of the police. "The successful resuscitation of this elderly citizen can be directly attributed to the quick and effective CPR initiated by the LAPD officers."

CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Brittney Hopper spoke to the officers and Peter Steinberg, the woman's son.

He is sure the officers are heroes. "They saved her life. Without those two officers, my mother would not be here."

Jennifer Cohen was Ruth's waitress. She says when Ruth started choking there was panic in the room but she immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver. Still, Ruth collapsed in her arms. "I just thought of my grandma. And I just thought. This is just really sad," said Cohen.

Officer Maldonado and Officer Logan say they hope anyone would have done what they did. They don't think of themselves as heroes. Peter says he can't thank the officers enough for going above and beyond, serving and protecting his mother. "They did the right thing and I can't say enough, 'Thank you officers. You're a credit to the force.'"

Ruth Steinberg is at West Hills Medical Center. Family members say she's in ICU but are hoping she makes a full recovery.