Cardiac Arrest Victim Reunites with Rescuers

Survivor John Stalzer with his daughter, Brianna, visits Engine 221 to thank the FDNY members who saved his life.

John Stalzer, an iron worker, was helping build a new EMS Station at Metropolitan Avenue and Roebling Street, Brooklyn, on Dec. 13, when he started feeling ill.

Moments later, he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. He was having a serious heart attack which, doctors said, only has a three to five percent survival rate.

But because of everyone's quick thinking, from the bystanders on the scene to the first responders, he not only survived, he was able to stop by Engine 221 on Dec. 30 to thank the firefighters and EMS members who saved his life.

"I wanted to meet you all in the worst way," Mr. Stalzer said, clutching his 12-year-old daughter. "What you did means the world to me and my family - without you, I wouldn't be here right now. Thank you for helping my family have a great Christmas and happy New Year."

Just two weeks earlier, when Mr. Stalzer collapsed and stopped breathing, his 18-year-old son, who was working with the same company, called 9-1-1 and began chest compressions.

John Stalzer and his daughter, Brianna, speaks to the FDNY firefighters and EMS members who saved his life.

Units arrived just minutes later - including Station 35 Rescue Paramedics Alessandro Negri and Brian Frayne; EMTs Shaeumos Rand and John Capunay; and the members of Engine 221, including Lt. Craig Cardi, Jamie Plantz, James Gorman, Brian Kevan and Robert Pineiro.

Firefighters immediately started doing CPR on the man as EMS members prepared to defibrillate.

After several shocks, they restored his heart rhythm and he was breathing on his own.

The EMS members then did an EKG, which indicated he was having a heart attack, so they began cooling treatments and transported him to Long Island College Hospital, which has a catheterization center.

He was given a stent at the hospital and continued cooling treatments.

"To be able to give a patient back to his family is just fantastic," Rescue Paramedic Frayne said.

Lt. Cardi said firefighters and EMS members worked perfectly as a team that day, adding, "It's so rewarding to see him come back here . it's the best present Santa could give."

As the rescuers helped Mr. Stalzer piece together the events of the day, his daughter, Brianna, hugged her dad's waist and said, "I'm so thankful, he's always been there for me. Thank you so much."