Bob Durling of Gilbert, Arizona, is an avid cyclist. Last month, the 69-year-old was driving home from a ride when he had a heart attack while behind the wheel. "All the sudden my vision kind of tunneled up,” he recalls, “And that's when my heart stopped."
Fortunately, people nearby rushed to Durling’s aid, including Courtney Johnson, an off-duty nurse on her way home after an overnight shift. Johnson immediately began CPR on Durling, staying with him until first responders arrived minutes later.
After receiving a stent and a defibrillator, the grandfather of 10 is now in good health and feeling lucky to be alive. Durling recently got a chance to meet his rescuers and they all signed the cycling shirt he was wearing the day of his heart attack. Captain Jose Garcia of Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department says it’s rare to get to meet someone you’ve saved. "It's (an) absolute joy to see him walk through the door,” Garcia says, “it sends tingles up your spine."