Off-duty EMTs saved the life of a Cedar City man

CEDAR CITY, Utah – A Cedar City man is going home a week after his life seemed to end in a grocery store parking lot.

But it turns out he was given a new lease on life by two people who didn’t take the term “off duty” seriously.

About a week ago, 77-year-old Marco Pesantez was loading up on groceries in this parking lot of Cedar City Smith’s when he suddenly fainted from cardiac arrest. It turns out he had a bit of luck on his side.

“There were a couple of off-duty EMTs who went out at the same time. They saw what happened and were able to provide CPR immediately and effectively, so that’s why he’s with us today,” said Ana Turpin, Pesantez’s daughter, said .

About two and a half years ago, Pesantez fell in love with Cedar City and moved his entire family there from Las Vegas. He was still working until the cardiac arrest, pulling shifts at the local Chili’s.

He had just cashed his check after shopping at Smith’s when he collapsed.

Workers at the market said they did not expect him to make it and were surprised to hear he had recovered and was going home. Turpin said she is “forever” indebted to the two off-duty EMTs.

“I mean, they saved my dad’s life,” she said. ‘And thanks to them he’s still here. The doctor, the cardiologist, told us that if he had not received CPR right away, he would likely have suffered brain damage due to the lack of oxygen in his brain.

Turpin said that after spending a week at St. George Regional Hospital after being airlifted there, Pesantez was released Monday afternoon.

“The doctors were very shocked by the turn of events. about his quick recovery.”

The only worry for Pesantez and his family now: the medical bills.

“His bills are astronomical and I think that’s what’s weighing on him and keeping him from continuing to recover like he should,” Turpin said.

Turpin and the rest of the family are trying to raise some money online for his recovery. But they say they are grateful to two anonymous first responders who didn’t take the off-duty term seriously.

Anyone who wants to donate can do so via this GoFundMe page.