Calgary First Aid: How Quick-Thinking Strangers Saved a Jogger’s Life with CPR
When Mark Smith went out for an evening jog, he never expected his life to depend on the kindness and skills of complete strangers. But on a cold December evening, the then-62-year-old collapsed on a Wellington Crescent sidewalk when his heart suddenly stopped beating. Without the fast, coordinated actions of several bystanders, Smith says he wouldn’t be alive today.
A Sudden Collapse — and Immediate Action
Smith remembers nothing from December 6, 2015—only heading out for a run around 5 p.m. The next thing he knew, he woke up five days later in a hospital bed, surrounded by tubes, after undergoing triple bypass surgery.
During that gap, a remarkable chain of events unfolded.
Across the street, teacher Jaime Boulerice noticed something unusual.
“Is that a rock or is that a man?” she wondered as she saw a hunched figure on the sidewalk.
Boulerice and her close friend Liz Morales rushed over and found Smith not breathing. They gently helped him lay flat while another bystander immediately began CPR. A second man called 911. For about 10 minutes, the stranger continued chest compressions—long enough to keep Smith alive until paramedics arrived.
You can read the full original CBC story here:
👉 Grateful Winnipeg man thanks strangers who helped save his life
The Work of Many “Angels”
Smith later learned that first responders had to defibrillate him twice—once at the scene and again in the ambulance. According to the University of Washington, less than 8% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital survive. Smith beat the odds because people nearby were trained, willing, and ready to act.
“Without this angel, I was gone,” Smith said. “This could have happened while I was alone at home, and I wouldn’t be here today.”
The bystanders who helped carried that moment with them as well. Boulerice said she spent a year wondering whether Smith survived—until hearing him tell his story on CBC.
Reuniting With His Rescuers
As Christmas approached the following year, Smith posted a message of gratitude online, hoping someone would recognize the story. Eventually, he was able to meet Boulerice and Morales in person—and express the gratitude he had held since the day his life was saved.
“I want them to know the outcome of their efforts. I am alive today. I am so happy to still be here and part of my family’s life.”
Technology Tracks the Moment
Months after recovering, Smith opened his running app and was stunned to see his route from that day recorded—right up to the moment he collapsed. It also showed the ambulance route to the hospital. Although eerie, it brought clarity to an otherwise missing memory and served as a reminder of how close he came to losing his life.
A Full Recovery and a New Perspective
Smith returned to his work as a researcher in epidemiology after five months of rehabilitation. Despite having no permanent heart damage, he says the experience changed him.
“A great favour has been done for me. I think, how can I pay that forward in some way?”
CPR: A Skill That Saves Lives
Mark Smith’s story shows exactly why CPR training matters. Early chest Compressions dramatically increase survival rates in cardiac arrest. In this case, bystanders with courage—and crucially, the knowledge of how to perform CPR—kept someone alive long enough for paramedics to take over.
If you want to be prepared to help in an emergency, consider taking a certified CPR course. A few hours of training can equip you with the skills needed to save a life when seconds matter.
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