After swimming laps at the YMCA pool in Springfield, Jim McBride headed to the hot tub, submerging himself up to his chest. Jim and his wife Donna described what happened next on that December day in 2022 as divine intervention, right place, right time and a YMCA staff who had the Red Cross training to save Jim’s life.

“If it had happened anywhere else, I would have been gone by the time the ambulance came,” Jim said.

At the exact moment Gabe DiEmidio and Peter McMonagle were arriving for their shifts as new lifeguards, Jim’s head was about to sink beneath the water.

Peter said, “I took off my jacket real quick and then pulled him out of the hot tub, and he was like completely dead weight.”

Gabe and Peter were high school sophomores who had received their training only a few weeks before.

“As I called for help, I started giving him CPR and that’s when Gabe came in,” Peter said.

A third lifeguard, Carlotta Myers, had just clocked out, but headed to the commotion when she heard there was an emergency.

“He was unconscious and not breathing so we didn’t actually know at the moment that he had a heart attack. We just knew he needed help,” Carlotta said. Carlotta helped clear Jim’s airway.

Gabe pressed an emergency button which summoned police and paramedics and then he immediately retrieved the AED, an automated external defibrillator.

Every employee at the Springfield YMCA is trained by the American Red Cross in first aid, CPR and how to use an AED.

The Red Cross describes an AED as a “medical device that helps to re-establish an effective heart rhythm in those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.”

“I strapped him up and it said ‘Shock Advised’ so I pressed shock. As soon as I pressed shock he went, (Gabe demonstrated an intake of breath) and then came right back to life. One shock,” Gabe said.

“He was in a good place when he had his heart attack,” Carlotta said.

Lynn Cohen, the executive director for the American Red Cross Delaware Valley Chapter, honored Carlotta, Gabe and Peter on October 3rd with the Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders.

“It’s my favorite part of the job,” she said. “I just want to thank this team so much for your quick thinking and for jumping in.”

Lynn let Jim hand out the Red Cross award certificates and pins to the people who helped save his life. Jim will never forget what their quick actions meant. “To have that support here. I was really lucky,” he said.

After his heart attack, Jim underwent a five hour emergency surgery – a double bypass. He spent a week in the hospital and a week in rehab six months after he had been newly married.

“Our first Christmas I wasn’t home, but I was alive, so that was okay,” he said.

“I believe he was saved for a reason,” his wife Donna said.

Jim is now on a mission to educate everyone about how to use an AED and how important it is that they are available. He works as a lifeguard at the very YMCA where his life was saved, alongside his rescuers Carlotta, Gabe and Peter.

“It’s a thrill to be able to come here,” he said.

Peter said, “He’s our friend now.” Gabe added, “It’s meant to be.”

Gabe and Peter are now high school seniors who plan to join the Marines after graduation. They won’t ever forget saving Jim.

“Lifesaving is a good skill to have down the road because you never know when you are going to need it,” Peter said.

Gabe said, “It feels good to be recognized. Especially for other people to realize how important CPR is and AED.”

Carlotta said Jim “thanks us at least once a week. He’s very passionate about his job.”

Jim will forever be grateful. He said, “I’m so thankful every day how lucky I am.”

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- Written by Jenny Farley