HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Memorial Regional Hospital hosted the “Heartbeats and Heroes” event on Monday for cardiac arrest survivors and the people who rushed to help them when every second mattered.

Patrick Hendrick, James Alexander, and Charles Little were among the survivors who shared their stories.

Hendrick and Alexander said they were watching TV when they became unresponsive. Hendrick lives with a pacemaker, and Alexander received a heart transplant.

“All of a sudden, the lights went out,” said Little, who was at the Hard Rock hotel when he became unresponsive.

Hotel staff and a bystander performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and used an automated external defibrillator before Seminole Fire Rescue personnel arrived.

“Good fortune on my part that there were helpers there on scene,” Little said.

During a ceremony and luncheon, the hospital recognized the fire rescue personnel from Seminole, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Davie, Miramar, Broward, and Miami-Dade.

Cardiac arrest survivors attend Memorial Regional Hospital’s ‘Heartbeats and Heroes’ event

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Isabella Martin