Air Force member saves life of young jogger in museum district

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Compassion and quick reactions saved the life of a young Houston jogger.

Jonathan Ruppert, 23, would not be alive today, if it weren't for the people he is thanking at Fire Station 16. He was jogging in the museum district last month when he collapsed. Robert Niter, III, who was on leave from the Air Force, saw him on the ground, jumped out of the car and performed bystander CPR.

"I'm very fortunate," Ruppert said. "Not everyone gets to survive a heart attack and get a second chance at life. If it wasn't for Staff Sgt. Niter giving me CPR, I probably wouldn't have come back to life as quickly as I would have, or come back at all.

On Tuesday, Ruppert's entire family, including his twin brother, came to Fire Station 16 to say thank you to Niter who gave him CPR, and the Houston Fire Department's first responders. Two other bystanders also got involved and helped Ruppert when he collapsed.

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