Jack “Matt” Kirchner said he feels lucky to be alive.
Kirchner, 60, of Wildwood suffered a cardiac arrest while swimming in the Wildwood Family YMCA’s pool on Nov. 23. The quick response by employees and members, who rushed to his aid, has been credited with saving his life.
The Metro West Fire Protection District recognized the actions of the YMCA’s executive director, two lifeguards and three members, presenting them with plaques during a Jan. 21 ceremony at the facility at 2641 Hwy. 109.
Metro West Fire deputy chief medical officer Brad Shelton said the actions taken to help Kirchner are an example of why early CPR is important.
Recognized were YMCA executive director Tim Peters, lifeguards Bill Smith and Ryan Clausius and YMCA members Agatha Ijei, Neil Sturomski and Meredith Gibbons.
“I thank everyone that was involved,” Shelton said. “You all are our first responders. They say that the firefighters and police officers are first responders. The community is our first responders to CPR because early CPR before we even get here really does help save a life.”
Kirchner said he does not remember anything about the incident and meeting everyone who helped him was overwhelming. He said his cardiologist told him he is alive due to the quick action of everyone and that early CPR was administered.
“I had 1 percent chance of even being here,” he said.
At the Y
Kirchner said he joined the Wildwood YMCA 22 days before the incident in the pool. He said he had been working out more and had lost 50 pounds, and that access to the facility’s pool was an attraction.
“I’ve always been interested in swimming and it’s low impact,” he said.
The day Kirchner nearly drowned following his cardiac arrest was busy, Sturomski said.
The 70-year-old Wildwood resident said about 25 people were in the pool with about six swimming laps and others taking part in a water aerobics class. Sturomski said he was swimming in the lane next to Kirchner.
“I did feel honestly, as he was doing those last few laps before he went down, that his swimming got really slow and he looked a little white,” Sturomski said. “But I thought, ‘He knows what he’s doing.’”
Sturomski said he saw Kirchner go under the water and thought he looked limp.
“I went under the rope and got his head up as fast as I could on the edge of the pool and I screamed as loud as I could, ‘Guard!’” he said.
Smith, 74, of Wildwood was one of the lifeguards on duty, and he said he was already moving toward Kirchner before Sturomski cried for help.
“I noticed that Jack didn’t move at all when the other swimmer left (the end of the lane),” he said. “I thought, ‘Yeah, something’s not right.’ I was already getting down off the guard (stand) and moving to the end of the pool.”
Smith said he directed fellow lifeguard Clausius, 19, of Eureka to call 911 and clear the pool.
Sturomski said he was amazed to see how quickly the lifeguards worked together.
“Bill was already doing chest compressions, and Ryan had that plastic thing in his mouth to breathe into,” he said. “They were already doing things before we were all out of the pool. They were on top of it.”
Sturomski said he started to cry after he left the pool area.
“I was just there at the right time and right place,” he said. “I just did what my gut told me to do.”
Ijei, 58, of Wildwood said she was in the water aerobics class and felt like she had to jump into action and took over CPR compressions for Smith.
Ijei said she has been a nurse since 1987 and this is the first time she has performed CPR outside of a hospital.
“I have been a nurse for so long it feels good to be recognized,” she said.
Peters said he was near his office at the time of the incident when he heard people yelling. He said Kirchner was shocked twice with an automated external defibrillator before Metro West Fire crews arrived.
“Thank God that we are trained to handle this,” Peters said. “We try to give everyone their best chance until the professionals get here.”
Metro West Fire’s Gillian Satkus, Jeana Albers, Steve Moats, Bob Cogan and Daniel Rodriguez responded to the call.
Sturomski said he saw Kirchner open his eyes as he was being wheeled to an ambulance. He said that gave him peace and the hope that Kirchner would be OK.
Kirchner said he was in the hospital for several days after the accident and has had a pacemaker implanted. He said he plans to return to swimming at the YMCA after his doctor gives him the green light to do so.
“Life keeps going,” he said. “That’s my purpose.”