Rick Stockwell survived a heart attack at the Regency Country Club at Dominion Valley thanks to the immediate actions of his friends and local first responders. During a golf tournament, Stockwell collapsed on the first green. Walt Huscilowitc began chest compressions with assistance from Bill Siddon, while Les Pomeroy called 911 and directed emergency crews to the scene.
Huscilowitc’s CPR kept Stockwell alive until EMS arrived. First responders continued CPR, used a defibrillator, and delivered several shocks until Stockwell’s heart returned to a normal rhythm and he regained a pulse. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he quickly showed signs of recovery, including purposeful movement and verbal communication. By his arrival at the hospital, he was alert.
Marie Stockwell, Rick’s wife, received news of her husband’s collapse from the golf course pro. “I just thought that he had had heat exhaustion or something like that, because it was a hot, humid day,” she said. When she arrived and saw rescuers performing CPR on her husband, she described feeling overwhelmed: “When I saw all of them around him just beating on his chest, I just lost it. It wasn’t what I expected, and I still have a hard time with it,” she said.
Prince William County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Jason Reese described Stockwell’s survival as remarkable. “Early interventions and activation of the 911 system is a key component to the Cardiac Chain of Survival,” Reese said. “Having a successful CPR with return of spontaneous circulation is not a common occurrence. Nationally, survival rate is around 20 percent with bystander CPR, without bystander CPR the national average is around 4 percent. Prince William County Fire and Rescue encourages everyone to learn CPR through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.”
Marie Stockwell expressed gratitude for those who helped save her husband: “Everyone was awesome. If it wasn’t for Walt, Rick wouldn’t be here. All three of them – we were just blessed all the way through it,” she said. “The rescue people were awesome – awesome with him, awesome with me because I was crazy.”
She also recounted one of Rick’s first questions after regaining consciousness: “One of his first questions when he came to was, ‘Did I make the cut?’”
The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue recently recognized Huscilowitc, Siddon and Pomeroy with the Citizen Hero’s Award for their efforts in saving Stockwell’s life.
Stockwell is now recovering at home with his family.
