FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After nearly a year of recovery, Shams Lakhdhir expressed his gratitude Wednesday to the men and women who saved his life after a routine workout turned into a life-threatening emergency.
“Eternally grateful. I’m in awe of the wonderful people that are here,” Lakhdhir said.
The 52-year-old was on his usual run along A1A in Fort Lauderdale last August when he suffered cardiac arrest. He lost consciousness and collapsed when a beach lifeguard spotted him and called for assistance.
“It was pretty intense, but I’m glad to see he’s doing well and he recovered quickly,” said Marcus Goolsby, of Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue.
Goolsby and other members of Fort Lauderdale’s Ocean Rescue began CPR.
“I got a call saying that he (Lakhdhir) was passed out behind the sea wall behind tower 15, so we started our process,” Goolsby said.
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 90% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are fatal.
Lakhdhir’s heart stopped three times that day— while running, in the ambulance, and again at Broward Health Medical Center.
“He suffered another cardiac arrest in CCU, multi-organ failure. Kidney and liver failure. He was on a ventilator and had a tracheostomy done,” a doctor said.
The battle against organ failure lasted several weeks, but he eventually made a miraculous recovery.
“I received the best possible treatment and for that, I’m profoundly thankful,” said Lakhdhir.
At a news conference, both Lakhdhir and his wife had the chance to thank those who made his second chance at life possible.
“I couldn’t have done it without the people here and my family and my loved ones have been my rock. So it’s nice that I am here today,” Lakhdhir said.
“Love to hear stories like this. It makes my job rewarding,” said a Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue employee.