Patrick Raycraft was participating in a 42-mile bike race last October in Buffalo, New York when he had a heart attack. He said that at mile 32, he felt pain throughout his entire chest area, left elbow pain and tightness.
He pulled over on the side of the road to speak to a man watching the race, and told him to take him back to the previous water stop two miles back. He collapsed, and by a stroke of luck, a cardiac nurse participating in the race saw him, recognized what was going on, and called 911.
Raycraft was shocked nine times with paddles as CPR was performed. Doctors then implanted a heart pump called the Impella that allowed his heart to rest before placing a stent. He had cardiac history, and was being seen at least once a year by doctors and was “extremely compliant with medication.”
