A man in his sixties had to be resuscitated twice by paramedics when he suffered a heart attack during the Jeep Warrior Race today.
The athlete was allegedly running the race with his two sons and collapsed close to the end of the race.
When IPSS Medical Rescue arrived the man’s son had started CPR.
The paramedics treated him twice with shock therapy and he began breathing again.
IPSS Medical Rescue paramedic Paul Herbst said the man’s recovery was astonishing.
“On route to the hospital he started talking to us. This is the first time in 15 years that I have seen a patient respond so well after a heart attack.”
However Herbst said the man is not out of danger.
“He had another heart attack at the hospital but they were able to resuscitate him.”
Other serious injuries during the race included a few fractured ankles and a dislocated shoulder.
Herbst said the Warrior Race was one of the best organized events he had worked at.
“With about 4000 participants everything went pretty smoothly.”
The Jeep Warrior Race obstacle course series tested competitors’ endurance and wits with three different courses of 6km, 10km and 19km at Living Earth Farm, Holla Trails, outside Ballito.