Runner collapses, suffers cardiac arrest at half-marathon that raises funds for Heart & Stroke Foundation

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Peggy

The man in charge of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service half-marathon had to put his years of paramedic experience to use after a runner collapsed just after the finish line on Sunday.

Race director Jonathan Torchia, who had worked as a paramedic for 13 years before becoming a business owner, says he was metres away when it happened.

In that moment, Torchia says he went from race director to paramedic as he and volunteers sprang into action, grabbing an automated external defibrillator (AED) and doing chest compressions.

“It was tough and I kind of went numb there for a second,” he said.

“I just reminded myself, I know what I have to do here to help this guy out.”

A man smiling while looking away from the camera. — Jonathan Torchia is the director of the WFPS Half-Marathon and owner of City Park Runners, but also worked as a paramedic for 13 years. (Submitted by Sheila Howe)

At first, the prognosis was not good, Torchia said. The man had gone totally limp, and Torchia says he couldn’t find a pulse on his carotid artery.

Fortunately, the man regained consciousness after the AED was applied and he was taken to hospital, Torchia said.

“What could have been a very terrible, sad, heartbreaking disaster had a positive outcome,” Torchia said.

“In my career as a paramedic I saw, I would say, 90 per cent go the other way where you’re doing chest compressions and trying to shock the person and get everything back and it doesn’t happen.”

A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said they transported one individual in unstable condition from the event, but couldn’t comment further due to privacy legislation.

‘Angel watching over him’

Torchia said the man was lucky that it happened when and where it did. If he had collapsed along the race, there likely wouldn’t have been anyone there to do first aid and deploy a defibrillator.

“I told him he has an angel watching over him. He went down at the right spot at the right time,” he said.

Torchia said he visited the man in hospital and he appears to be in good spirits, despite the close call.

“He hasn’t quite processed what happened. He almost can’t believe that’s what happened.”

He added that it’s fitting that this year’s half-marathon raised money for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

“What a story for that kind of thing to happen right at our event,” he said. “It’s a really good reminder that this can happen to anybody.”