STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- North Oaks, Minn. resident Kristina Elfering, 41, says Dr. Theodore Strange, vice president of medical operations for Staten Island University Hospital, is her hero.

“I owe Dr. Strange my life. He is my hero. He is my whole family’s hero. For the rest of my life, I’ll never forget him,” she said.

Dr. Strange helped her when she collapsed at mile 16 of the New York Marathon.

“I started running and I felt good. I remember we got up to the Queensboro Bridge, looking at my watch, and thinking the last mile was slower than the others. ...Suddenly, I felt hot and that’s the last thing I remember,” said Elfering, a civil engineer, who trained for about 40 weeks for the marathon.

That’s when Strange, who is also vice chair for NorthWell Health System, stopped his own race -- the 25th he has participated in, in his lifetime -- to help Elfering.

“He was right there performing CPR. Strange’s fast action is what saved me. I didn’t have a lot of time [without] air,” she said, noting she was diagnosed with a blood clot in an artery, and has since been given a stent in her heart.

“I never had any problems. I have done an Ironman and a 100 mile trail race, with no problem. But my father died at age 51 of a heart attack,” she said.

WHY HE’S HER HERO

During the marathon, Strange had met up with some friends after running over the Queensboro Bridge.

“I was high-fiving people on my right, and I didn’t know where it came from, but I just heard somebody yell for help,” said Strange.

“Instinctively, I went and saw a woman on the ground. ...A volunteer from the marathon came over and I asked him to lift her legs up, and I said, ‘I’ll try to help her up.' ....But while I was trying to revive her, I knew there was something wrong because her lips were beginning to turn blue,’” he added.

“I yelled, ‘I’m starting CPR now. I need a defibrillator now,’” he continued.

NYPD, FDNY and EMS workers sprung into action, clearing the area around Strange and assisting him in aiding Elfering. “They were wonderful," Strange said.

After receiving a defibrillator, Strange and emergency workers diligently attempted to revive Elfering.

EMS workers then brought over more equipment, including oxygen and another defibrillator, the doctor said. Then, “after two or three more shocks,” Strange said, “she was breathing on her own.”

Strange said she was still not conscious, however. Elfering was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan for further treatment.

"NOT A HERO'

But Strange says he’s not a hero -- just a good samaritan who was in the right place at the right time.

“This morning I was laying in bed reflecting on my son’s 27-years as he’s about to get married, and celebrating life. It was a very emotional week. it was a week about saving a life, and it’s all about love,” he said.