Today at the Arizona state meet legend Ron Johnson after setting a new American Record in the 200 breastroke suffered a severe heart attack in the warm down pool. Thankfully the lifeguards and masters swimmer/physician Kurt Dickson and others we're able to start immediate life support until paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital
As of 5pm this evening all I know is that Ron had had regained consciousness, appeared to have not suffered brain damage and was breathing on his own...however he did have 5-6 clogged arteries and was going into immediate open heart surgery.....please send your prayers and thoughts this evening for his recovery....
10:15am....Marika just called and Ron is sitting up and talking.....but has no memory of what happened.....best possible scenario....lets keep our fingers crossed and keep up the prayers and positive thoughts....thanks everyone!
We're going to head over to the meet....we'll keep everyone updated as we hear any news.
Appears he is lucky to have a good outcome following a potentially lethal event. I lost a very good friend and professional colleague this year at age 51 due to an acute cardiac event - he was very fit, exercised regularly and neither smoke nor drank alcohol - he was resuscitated but had been in ventricular fibrillation too long, and was declared brain dead.
It sounds as if the resuscitation by the guards and EMT's was fantastic. Best wishes to Ron Johnson - a great coach and a great swimmer. Thanks, Paul, for the updates.
10:15am....Marika just called and Ron is sitting up and talking.....but has no memory of what happened.....best possible scenario....lets keep our fingers crossed and keep up the prayers and positive thoughts....thanks everyone!
We're going to head over to the meet....we'll keep everyone updated as we hear any news.
Appears he is lucky to have a good outcome following a potentially lethal event. I lost a very good friend and professional colleague this year at age 51 due to an acute cardiac event - he was very fit, exercised regularly and neither smoke nor drank alcohol - he was resuscitated but had been in ventricular fibrillation too long, and was declared brain dead.
It sounds as if the resuscitation by the guards and EMT's was fantastic. Best wishes to Ron Johnson - a great coach and a great swimmer. Thanks, Paul, for the updates.
