Airport Traveler Saves A Life with 17 Minutes of CPR

June 23, 2014—Darn! Sue Hostler didn’t make it before the doors closed on the elevator she was racing to catch at the Philadelphia International Airport. To her surprise, when the elevator returned and the doors opened, there lay the body of a young man, face down and unconscious.

This was the situation Sue faced when Bob Hallinan, 25, suffered sudden cardiac arrest at the airport last August. Instinct and adrenaline kicked in. Sue immediately called 911 and summoned a passerby to help her turn Bob over. Not finding a pulse, she initiated CPR, which she had learned long ago. She performed CPR by herself for the next 17 minutes while directing EMTs to the scene over the phone. Sue had the courage to start CPR and the stamina to perform it for an extended period of time.

Upon arrival, the EMS crew delivered two shocks with an AED (automated external defibrillator) before transporting Bob to a nearby hospital.

Today, Bob credits Sue with saving his life. He stood at her side earlier this month in Las Vegas when she was honored with the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation’s People Saving People Award^SM. The purpose of the award is to increase awareness about the critical need for bystanders to help in sudden cardiac emergencies. In his nomination essay, Bob wrote,    “. . . I would not be here today had it not been for her quick and calm actions that afternoon.” He continued, “Sue is my guardian angel and I owe my life to her. She deserves to be recognized as a hero for her performance.”

In recognition of her heroic actions, Sue received a ZOLL AED Plus^®, which she will donate to a community organization of her choice.