Off-duty Captain Provided CPR to Collapsed Drummer

Captain Michael Silveria was named this week’s Friday’s Hero. Each week Mayor Berry recognizes one public safety employee who goes above the call of duty.

“So often we hear about heroic deeds of our wonderful firefighters and police officers and firefighters,” Mayor Berry said. “What amazes me is that so many of the deeds occur when they are off-duty.”

On May 22, Captain Silveria was attending the Funky Town concert with his wife and sister-in-law at Sandia Casino and Resort. During the performance, the drummer collapsed on stage and the show was stopped.

As the curtains closed for the show, Captain Silveria heard someone yell, “call 911.” He then rushed to the stage to help the drummer.

The man was unconscious, not breathing and didn’t have a pulse. Captain Silveria then performed Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation for about 30 minutes and used a defibrillator to shock the drummer’s heart. Silveria worked non-stop to revive the drummer until on-duty AFD Rescue 20 arrived and transported him to a hospital. The drummer had suffered a heart attack.

Silveria is an Instructor at the Albuquerque Fire Academy.

“Captain Silveria’s actions exemplifies what the Albuquerque Fire Department is all about,” Chief James Breen said. “He wasted no time to help a stranger in need.”