For Albion man who saved general, CPR training took over

Tim LaLonde thankful for best outcome in emergency

This screenshot from The Today Show that aired last Friday shows Albion native Tim LaLonde meeting Marine Corps General Eric Smith and his wife Trish.

It’s been a whirlwind the past week for Tim LaLonde, an Albion native who said he much prefers to be in the background and out of the limelight.

But LaLonde has been highlighted in The Washington Post, The Today Show and was a featured guest at a Marine Corps celebration and parade in Washington, D.C. last weekend.

On Oct. 29, LaLonde saved the life of Marine Corps General Eric Smith. The general was out for a 3-mile run around Washington when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. LaLonde did CPR for nearly 10 minutes and kept the general alive until EMTs arrived. The general has made a full recovery.

LaLonde last week met the general for the first time since Oct. 29, and received a deep appreciation from the general’s wife, two children and so many in the Marine Corps.

“Everyone I met in his close family was extremely gracious, they were very thankful,” LaLonde said by phone Tuesday evening. “They are nice people.”

The soldiers under the general’s command told LaLonde how grateful they were he was able to come to Smith’s aid.

“It was nonstop that for two whole days,” LaLonde said about all the warm greetings. “Every person I ran into had an amazing story about the guy. I was getting overwhelmed.”

LaLonde, 33, was in Washington on Oct. 29 for the Marine Corps Marathon. He trained for many months for the ultra marathon, a 50-kilometer or 31.1-mile route that took him over five hours on a warm day.

General Smith was at the finishing line that day, congratulating many of the runners, including his wife Trish who also did the ultra.

LaLonde embraces the challenge of a long distance. He has done marathons before. On Oct. 29, he did the race with his sister Joyce LaLonde, who lives in D.C.

After the marathon, they had a late lunch with many family members to celebrate. While walking back to Joyce’s residence, they saw a man collapsed on the sidewalk.

Tim LaLonde is shown by The Today Show at the sidewalk where he found General Eric Smith unconscious and in need of CPR.

Tim LaLonde works as an environmental Health and safety professional for a manufacturing company in Seattle, Wash. He has been certified in CPR since he was 18. He has been a CPR instructor since he was 25 and has taught hundreds of people to do CPR and to use an AED. But he never used CPR in an emergency until Oct. 29.

Joyce first saw the man who was down, with blood coming out of his mouth and told her family the man needed help.

Tim sized up the situation and directed his father Steve to help position the general so Tim could do CPR. Joyce called 911 and her husband Nate Birnbaum took off to a police station get aid for Smith.

Tim for about nine minutes did chest compressions and provided air for Smith.

The EMTs took over, and the LaLonde family went back to Joyce’s residence, unsure of who the man was or how he was doing.

Later that night they were called by the military, seeking information about the incident. But LaLonde said it was only through a press release in the military when they realized the man on the sidewalk was the top general for the Marine Corps.

He followed updates from the Marine Corps and could see Smith made a full recovery and was back at full strength about four months after the incident. For LaLonde, that news brought closure. He never expected to meet the general again.

“I was already content,” LaLonde said when he knew the general had fully recovered and that LaLonde’s training made a difference. “We know what we did mattered and worked. I wasn’t expecting or even hoping for a meeting with the general. But it was awesome to be able to meet him.”

The general and his wife wanted to thank the group that saved his life, and also highlight the importance of civilians knowing CPR.

LaLonde said he did what he was trained to do. He is more impressed his family sprung into action, made decisive decisions and stayed calm.

“The big thing for me is I’m trained to do it,” LaLonde said. “My dad, sister and brother-in-law all handled themselves as best as could be expected. I’m proud of how they handled themselves.”

LaLonde said he has received many messages since the story came out last Friday, with many people saying he inspired them to learn CPR.