Recently, in Glendale Arizona, a man collapsed from a heart attack. The following story, reported from AZCentral.com, shows his near-death experience, and how quick action and access to a defibrillator helped to save his life.

Defibrillators helps save heart-attack victim's life

Brent Whiting, The Arizona Republic, Feb. 14, 2008 12:00 AM

www.azcentral.com

GLENDALE - A Glendale heart-attack victim has become the first person to be assisted with one of 16 lifesaving machines that were placed last fall at YMCAs throughout the Valley.

Officials credit the automated external defibrillator, or AED, and three people who jumped to the rescue with keeping the victim, Jim Sanford, 69, alive.

Glendale Deputy Fire Chief Chuck Montgomery said AEDs can shock a heart and get it going again, which is exactly what happened with Sanford. Everything came together for him, Montgomery said Friday.

Glendale Fire Chief Mark Burdick agreed, describing the three rescuers, Andrew Rapps, Ed Mukai and Rebecca Zandarski, as heroes.

Their quick thinking saved Mr. Sanford's life, and their efforts should be recognized, Burdick said.

Sanford said he remembers nothing about the heart attack that took place Jan. 25 while he was doing a workout at the Glendale/Peoria YMCA, 14711 N. 59th Ave., on the campus of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

I apparently went down, but I don't remember getting dizzy, nauseous or anything, Sanford said.

The next thing I knew, these three people were standing around me.

You can see the original article on the AZCentral.com website by visiting http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0214wvsaved0214.html