East Valley Man Grateful to Lifeguards Who Rescued Him from Cardiac Arrest

The City of Mesa recognized four lifeguards for their heroic actions on Monday.

MESA, Ariz. — A local man and his family expressed profound gratitude towards a group of lifeguards whose prompt response was pivotal in saving his life just days before Thanksgiving.

Chris Sutton, a 62-year-old triathlete, experienced cardiac arrest at the Kino Aquatic Center. He returned to the facility for the first time since the near-fatal incident, visibly appreciative of the lifeguards’ efforts.

“I’m doing better than the last time you talked to me,” Sutton told the lifeguards, reflecting on his recovery.

Sutton was training when he suddenly felt light-headed and exited the pool, recalling a similar episode from the previous year that had resolved. However, this time was markedly different. “I thought this was similar to that, but kept getting worse,” he said, his concern evident.

Lifeguards Heidi White, Ally Carr, and two others sprang into action. White recounted how they contacted 911 while assessing Sutton’s condition. “He was upright, talking to us at first, and it kind of just went downhill from there,” she stated, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

After Sutton lost consciousness, Carr checked his pulse, which was weak. Despite lacking prior experience with such emergencies, the lifeguards relied on their training. “It was just like, muscle memory of all the times that we had trained,” White remarked.

Equipped with an automated external defibrillator, the team administered two shocks to restore Sutton’s heartbeat. Their timely intervention allowed paramedics to arrive, transport him to a hospital, where he remained for four days. Doctors were unable to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest, but they fitted him with an internal defibrillator for future safety.

Despite the alarming ordeal, Sutton maintained a positive demeanor as he thanked his rescuers during the City of Mesa’s recognition ceremony. He even lightened the mood with jokes about his workout routine, quipping, “I don’t ever want to do that [swim] workout again,” which elicited laughter from the audience.

Sutton and his wife personally acknowledged each lifeguard, expressing their heartfelt thanks for the timely intervention that saved his life. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to thank them for their skills that saved my life,” he said sincerely.

While Sutton may lack recollection of the dramatic events, lifeguards Carr and White will remember it vividly. “It’s really amazing to see how he went from what we saw that night to now,” White commented, reflecting on Sutton’s recovery.

As for Sutton, he plans to gradually resume his training, awaiting medical clearance to return to triathlons—a passion he is eager to revive.