Inmates help cardiac victim

BOISE – Three Idaho inmates are being honored for performing life-saving measures on a prison construction foreman who collapsed earlier this month after suffering a heart attack.

Kenny Runkle and Scott Wren, who are serving terms for drug charges, and Mitchell Banks, in prison for driving while intoxicated, were at the motor pool maintenance office at the South Idaho Correctional Institution near Boise on June 7 when foreman Mike Kunter collapsed.

According to the Idaho Department of Correction, the inmates immediately called for help, then performed CPR until medics arrived.

“If it were not for the quick action of these three offenders and our staff, it’s likely Mike would be dead,” said warden Gary Barrier.

All three inmates, along with eight Idaho Department of Correction staff who helped Kunter, were lauded in a Correction Department e-mail on Tuesday.

Kunter has since returned to work at the prison, said Department of Correction spokesman Jeff Ray.