Survivor: Lester Lindsey
Date of Event:
Location of Event: Original Pancake House - Champaign
Rescuer(s):Shannon Walter
Lester, known by many at the Original Pancake House in Champaign as the friendly “coffee guy,” had just finished work and was riding home when he went into cardiac arrest in the vehicle.
Shannon Walter was nearby, finishing lunch in a parking lot, when her phone alerted her through the PulsePoint app that someone close by needed CPR. She immediately drove across the street to help.
CPR Before EMS Arrived
When she arrived, people were pulling Lester from the car. Shannon began CPR right away. As a CPR instructor, she knew exactly what to do. Within minutes, first responders arrived and took over.
Those first few minutes were critical. Immediate CPR kept blood and oxygen moving until professional help could step in. Shannon did not know Lester and did not expect to learn what happened after. Later, she found out that her decision to respond made all the difference.