Cardiac Arrest Survivor Meets Those Who Saved His Life

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - It has been estimated that only five percent of patients who suffer sudden cardiac arrest survive.

On Friday, one of the lucky ones had a chance to meet the men and women who saved his life.

It was a joyful reunion at Canonsburg General Hospital where Susan Canfield met the many people who helped save her husband's life.

"It was late afternoon or early evening and all hell broke loose," Canfield said.

Almost exactly one month ago Daniel Canfield stopped breathing on the deck after dinner.

"Yeah, I wonder why it happened. There was no signs leading up to it, you know. I was in pretty good shape, good health. And then out of nowhere -- boom it happened. It surprised the hell out of me," Daniel Canfield said.

Susan and Daniel have been married for only six years and it was the first marriage for both of them.

"That's our job. We are expected to do that all the time. Unfortunately, sometimes it's a matter of taking a bad situation and making it a little less bad. This time, things came together, and we have a great outcome," William Blair with Canonsburg General Hospital Ambulance Service said.

For one of the rescuers, that call hit very close to home.

"My dad suffered sudden cardiac arrest while he was at work in 2008 and had a similar situation where everything came together and he's still alive and well because of everyone's actions," Pete Shandrick said.

"I am surprised by the turn-out. I didn't expect this. I just thought it would be four or five people showing up. I did not expect this," Daniel Canfield said.

But, thanks to their efforts, he lived to tell about it.

For more information on classes to get your CPR certification, visit KDKA.com/CPR

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