CL&P Employee Recognized for Lifesaving Action

Ed Patten (right) with NU Chairman,
President and Chief Executive
Officer Charles Shivery

CL&P employee Ed Patten recently received the Northeast Utilities Chairman's Lifesaving Action Award. The award, which has been presented to over 50 employees since 1999, recognizes Northeast Utilities employees who exhibit exceptional resourcefulness, initiative, fortitude, perseverance, or quick thinking, on or off the job, to directly prevent, mitigate, or physically remove other persons from imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.

Patten, a troubleshooter in Norwalk, was recognized for saving the life of a woman whose car had stalled on railroad tracks in Redding. He convinced the woman to move away from the vehicle before it was hit by a train, which tore off the front end of the car.

Redding police say if Patten had not been there, the outcome could have been tragic.