‘Lucky’ heart attack victim saved by doctors on Ottawa bike path

Susan Brayshaw's husband suffered a heart attack on Saturday. Doctors told her to buy a lottery ticket: he's the luckiest man alive.

"All of Jon's lucky stars were aligned on this very day, at this very time," Susan said on Saturday.

Susan her husband, Jon, were biking together on an Ottawa bike path when Jon collapsed in cardiac arrest.

Susan doesn't know CPR.

Within seconds, a group of "angels" came to the couple's rescue. Biking behind them were three doctors, including a cardiologist. A transit officer arrived shortly after with a defibrillator.

"They just took over," Susan told the Ottawa Sun. "They all worked together, each of them had a job to do. It was almost like it had been rehearsed. It was like it was meant to be."

"It was an outstanding story," said paramedic spokesman J.P. Trottier. "It's rare enough for us to be able to get a save with someone who's had a cardiac arrest, but with the early CPR and the (Public Access Defibrillator) program, it is working."

When Jon arrived at the Civic hospital in critical condition, doctors told Susan to buy a lottery ticket because of her husband's fortunate luck.

So she did — and won back her $5. Then she won a free coffee with her Roll Up the Rim cup.

"Of course, I got the best prize of all. My husband's alive," she said.

Jon escaped brain damage and heart damage — he experienced a small rupture in one of his arteries, now being repaired — and is expected to make a full recovery. This week, Susan and Jon hope to meet with the transit officer and quick-thinking doctors who saved his life.