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Gym Heroics: Stranger's CPR Saves Brea Man's Life
24 Oct
Summary
- A Brea man survived cardiac arrest thanks to quick-thinking gym-goers.
- Nurse practitioner, fire captains, and cardiologist collaborated in rescue.
- Cardiologist was coincidentally on-call and arrived before ambulance.
A 55-year-old Brea man, Rolan Pastores, experienced a life-threatening cardiac arrest while working out at Lifetime Fitness. Fortunately, multiple trained professionals were present and acted swiftly.
Nurse practitioner Florence Kim immediately began CPR upon seeing Pastores turn blue. Off-duty Orange County Fire Authority Captain Kevin Gorham took over airway management while Captain Bryant Stone of Santa Monica Fire retrieved and used an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Miraculously, cardiologist Dr. Shamail Tariq, who was coincidentally on-call for the nearby Providence St. Jude Hospital, arrived at the gym. He recognized the patient from a hospital alert and administered the life-saving shock, ultimately recovering Pastores' pulse after 10 minutes.
Dr. Tariq then rushed to Fullerton to perform surgery, identifying a 99% blockage and implanting two stents. Pastores, recovering well, reunited with his rescuers, emphasizing the extraordinary alignment of circumstances and the crucial role each individual played in his survival.
