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North Babylon Fire Chief Recalls Being Attacked After Rescuing Man From Heroin OD

NORTH BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The fire chief of North Babylon, Long Island went from a savior to a victim last week, after the man he saved from a drug overdose attacked him.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, Chief Robert Cabano has successfully saved about 200 drug patients using the heroin overdose antidote Narcan.

But the occasion this past Friday night was very different.

"I pulled up to my house and I hear a lot of yelling and screaming: 'Rob, I need help! My son is not breathing! He's turning blue!'"

Cabano called 911 as he raced to the house next door, hoping to rescue their 29-year-old son, Christopher Forgione, who was unresponsive in his upstairs bedroom.

"He is laying on the floor, there was open syringes, with needles He was completely blue. He was breathing. We checked for a pulse, which he had, so right away… administered Narcan."

It took two doses. Forgione came too, but so suddenly revived, he experienced extreme withdrawal.

Out came fisticuffs.

Cabano found himself being pummeled, punched and kicked in the head. He was saved by his arriving assistant chief and Suffolk police, who subdued and arrested Forgione.

"I never had someone actually physically attack me where I felt their attempt was to hurt, and possibly, you know, I felt like I was fighting for my life," Caboan said.

Cabano has now been spending his day seeing doctors, and complaining of a stutter, seeing stars, severe headaches, and memory loss. He said he wants to warn others as the push is made to make Narcan available to the general public.

Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds of the Family and Children's Association helps train Narcan usage.

"We always tell folks that when someone is revived with Narcan, they go headlong into drug withdrawals, which is a very difficult process," Reynolds said, "and folks don't always respond with a hug and kiss and a thank you for saving their lives. But all the same, they need our help."

The Forgione family declined comment. Their son, charged with assault, has not posted his $2,000 bond.

Assigned legal aid, Christopher Forgione was due in court Thursday.

Cabano said the family next door apologized and thanked him for saving their son's life.

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