Nassau police officers are being hailed as heroes for saving the life of a Levittown man who went into cardiac arrest.

Gary Peterson says he has a new outlook on life after nearly losing his three months ago. He praised emergency crews and his neighbor for their quick response.

Peterson went into cardiac arrest in December. Moments before that, he was having fun outside with his neighbor's son and teaching him a few moves on a skateboard.

When he walked back inside that day, he says he fell asleep. His wife says he started making an odd noise and she began to shake him. When he didn't wake up, she shouted for help to their neighbor, who happens to be a retired firefighter.

"He put him on the floor. He was doing CPR, and I called 911," says Susan Peterson, Gary's wife.

"I just went through the motions of doing the CPR and praying that the police got there," says Brian McLaughlin, Gary's neighbor.

When police medic Paul Brodowsky arrived, he used an AED on Gary and gave him an IV. He says Gary regained a pulse inside the ambulance and began breathing again.

Dr. Andrew Dream of St. Joseph's Hospital praised Nassau officers, medics and Brian for their level of care and expertise.

"They had already done all the hard work in the field for me to just get my diagnostics and make sure he was stabilized once he had a return of his vital signs," says Dr. Dream.

As for Gary, who turned 72 on Monday, he says he doesn't take any day for granted.

"A lot of things that you take for granted are things that you appreciate now," says Gary Peterson. "And life is a lot different now, so I think a lot differently."