Defibrillator Credited in Saving Rochester, MN Man's Life
Reliving Death
Jenna Gordon
KTTC TV
ROCHESTER, MN -- Considered dead, a Rochester man makes a miraculous recovery thanks to two off-duty police officers and a heart shocking machine. Now a year and a half later, NewsCenters Jenna Gordon takes us to Saint Marys where the survivor listens to his life changing day.
In May of 2006, Al Fritsche's life changed forever. He had just run 20 miles in Soldiers Field Park preparing for an upcoming marathon and was on his way home.
"Walking along here and kept getting dizzier and dizzier, and so I went to lean on the fence and the last thing I remember is looking out in the golf course," says Fritsche.
Off duty officers Gretchen and John O'Neill drove by the park and thought something just wasn't quite right. It could be said it was fate that the two off duty officers saw Al through all these trees and shrubs to where he laid standing getting dizzy and eventually falling down.
"For her to notice this runner looked like he was in trouble rather than just resting. I owe my life to her and John," say Fritsche.
Al had gone into Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
The two officers called for help and started CPR. And only minutes later another officer came with a defibrillator, which ended up saving his life.
"What a pleasure to see you right here today."
Defibrillators record sound and for the first time in a year and a half Al is listening to his fateful day.
"Heart rhythm. Come on Al, Come on Al."
"He was dead."
"It's a, makes me realize how lucky I am. All these people helping," says Fritsche.
"In at least 64 percent of people the hearts fibrillate at least one time and that's what happened in Al's case, So that required a 2nd shock," says Dr. White.
Dr. White says Al's case was a best case scenario. "His arrest was witnesses, he was attended to properly a defibrillator in a police car was made available and he was shocked properly and he regained pulses," says Dr. White.
"I was in a different place. Very calm, peaceful and quiet. I never felt anything like it before in my life. It was wonderful," says Fritsche.
Al woke up the next morning feeling great, like his heart never gave out. He says he wouldn't change the experience no matter how life threatening.
"I'm really glad it happened to be frank about it. It confirms a feeling I had that death is not to be feared," says Fritsche.
And listening to this life changing event, Al says he's got a life changing look on life.
Dr. White began a program where defibrillators are in most emergency response vehicles, and he says in Rochester they've saved 101 lives since the program started in 1990.
Jenna Gordon
KTTC TV
ROCHESTER, MN -- Considered dead, a Rochester man makes a miraculous recovery thanks to two off-duty police officers and a heart shocking machine. Now a year and a half later, NewsCenters Jenna Gordon takes us to Saint Marys where the survivor listens to his life changing day.
In May of 2006, Al Fritsche's life changed forever. He had just run 20 miles in Soldiers Field Park preparing for an upcoming marathon and was on his way home.
"Walking along here and kept getting dizzier and dizzier, and so I went to lean on the fence and the last thing I remember is looking out in the golf course," says Fritsche.
Off duty officers Gretchen and John O'Neill drove by the park and thought something just wasn't quite right. It could be said it was fate that the two off duty officers saw Al through all these trees and shrubs to where he laid standing getting dizzy and eventually falling down.
"For her to notice this runner looked like he was in trouble rather than just resting. I owe my life to her and John," say Fritsche.
Al had gone into Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
The two officers called for help and started CPR. And only minutes later another officer came with a defibrillator, which ended up saving his life.
"What a pleasure to see you right here today."
Defibrillators record sound and for the first time in a year and a half Al is listening to his fateful day.
"Heart rhythm. Come on Al, Come on Al."
"He was dead."
"It's a, makes me realize how lucky I am. All these people helping," says Fritsche.
"In at least 64 percent of people the hearts fibrillate at least one time and that's what happened in Al's case, So that required a 2nd shock," says Dr. White.
Dr. White says Al's case was a best case scenario. "His arrest was witnesses, he was attended to properly a defibrillator in a police car was made available and he was shocked properly and he regained pulses," says Dr. White.
"I was in a different place. Very calm, peaceful and quiet. I never felt anything like it before in my life. It was wonderful," says Fritsche.
Al woke up the next morning feeling great, like his heart never gave out. He says he wouldn't change the experience no matter how life threatening.
"I'm really glad it happened to be frank about it. It confirms a feeling I had that death is not to be feared," says Fritsche.
And listening to this life changing event, Al says he's got a life changing look on life.
Dr. White began a program where defibrillators are in most emergency response vehicles, and he says in Rochester they've saved 101 lives since the program started in 1990.
Labels: CPR, Defibrillator, Sudden Cardiac Arrest
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