On-Course Preparedness: How an Immediate Response Team Saved a Golfer’s Life
- Posted on: Oct 13 2025
Heart conditions often strike without warning, even in individuals who seem perfectly healthy. This was the situation for Mike (name changed for privacy), an avid golfer and competitor in the President’s Cup, who was enjoying a perfect afternoon on the golf course. As he reached the 16th hole, he collapsed without any prior symptoms.
A small, implanted loop recorder later revealed that his heart had entered a deadly arrhythmia, beating at an unsustainable rate of 260 beats per minute. Mike’s life depended entirely on the immediate, professional response of those nearby.
A Coordinated Lifesaving Effort
Mike’s survival was no accident; it was the direct result of preparation. The golf course had trained staff in CPR and had strategically placed Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on site.
Mike’s fellow players instantly recognized the severity of the situation. One called for emergency services while another immediately started performing CPR. Within minutes, the course superintendent arrived with an AED. After delivering two crucial shocks and continuing CPR, the team successfully stabilized Mike until the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived. This seamless chain of action—from community members to first responders—was critical. The EMTs quickly secured Mike, and he was airlifted by helicopter to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick for immediate, advanced care.
Recovery and the Power of Advocacy
At the hospital, Mike received necessary treatment, and doctors implanted a defibrillator as a long-term safeguard against future cardiac events. His journey continued with a focus on regaining strength and confidence through a three-month cardiac rehabilitation program at Hunterdon Medical Center.
Under the personalized guidance of Dr. Rupen Parikh, Director of the program, and his team, Mike attended regular exercise therapy and education classes. This careful, structured approach helped him rebuild his trust in his heart’s function and confidently return to his daily life.
Grateful for the second chance he received, Mike and his wife were motivated to pay the gift of life forward. Mike stated, “I was blessed to have all the people in the right place at the right time…I want to be that person.” Both he and his wife became certified in CPR. Mike’s experience transformed him from a patient into an active advocate for emergency preparedness. His story serves as a powerful reminder of how preparedness, swift community action, and quality cardiac care can save lives.
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