An 80-year-old man was rescued from the LA Fitness pool in Glendora, Calif., after he suffered a heart attack during an aquafit class.
According to KTLA5, witnesses said the man had participated in the aquafit class nearly daily for more than ten years. He had started to leave the pool to take a break when he “dropped and ended up face down.”
The LA Fitness manager, Rose Slocum, jumped into action along with other gym employees and bystanders, pulling the man from the water.
Related: How to Achieve Emergency Preparedness in the Fitness Setting
“He was already blue in the face from drowning,” Slocum said, adding that her CPR and lifesaving skills kicked in instantly.
The staff began compressions and used an AED on the member. Slocum estimates that she completed six rounds of CPR before using the AED to revive the man. He was breathing again by the time first responders arrived to transport him to the hospital.
Slocum credited previous emergencies at the LA Fitness for keeping her prepared and vigilant. She previously did chest compressions on an elderly patron in the racquetball courts, and a history of cardiac arrest in her own family keeps her keenly aware of the importance of a quick response.
Said Slocum, “You’re in a panic, but you have to get focused and save someone’s life.”
The non-fatal drowning victim’s family members came to the LA Fitness after he was stable to collect his belongings and deliver flowers and balloons as thanks to Slocum for her lifesaving actions.
