By Jackie Alexander
The Charlotte Observer
Copyright 2007 The Charlotte Observer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eric Vogen woke at 5 a.m. on Father’s Day to get ready for another triathlon. The 41-year-old ate raspberries, nectarines and cereal, then walked out the door as his wife and baby girl slept.
As the Latta Triathlon got under way, he set up his bike and adjusted his goggles one last time before the clock hit 6:46 a.m. Go.
He swam faster than ever. Adrenaline pumping, he jogged to his bike and began the surprisingly easy 17-mile ride, joking with police officers along the way.
Then, the three-mile run. It, too, felt effortless. Now the finish line was just 50 yards away.
He remembers hoping he would finish ahead of the two women next to him.
Then he collapsed.
The next thing he remembers is waking up in an ambulance. Only later did he learn of the EMTs who had saved his life.
“That they were there, it wasn’t a coincidence,” said his wife Mary. “I do believe that these are the miracles.”
Vogen was reunited Tuesday with the eight EMTs who saved him after he went into cardiac arrest. They came from Medic, the Mecklenburg EMS agency, and from North Mecklenburg Rescue.
“It’s good to see you all again,” he said.
They talked and laughed, filling in gaps for Vogen about what happened June 17.
Vogen was running when he felt dizzy and went down. Bystanders alerted EMTs who were stationed nearby with a defibrillator.
EMT Brandi Benson of Medic said as she put on the last electrode, she watched Eric draw what might have been his last breath.
She hit his chest hard, enough to leave a bruise, before shocking him.
“Did you say, ‘Clear’?” Vogen asked. Yes, Benson said, just like on TV.
According to the American Heart Association, a person’s survival chances drop as much as 10 percent every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation.
The EMTs were able to reset Vogen’s heart within 30 seconds after he went into cardiac arrest.
Benson said she was thankful they were able to meet again on Tuesday. Rarely do EMTs get to reunite with patients they’ve helped save, she said.
Mary Vogen cried as she thanked the EMTs.
“It’s so hard to thank someone for giving you your husband back.”