CPR Heroes: Winnipeg Man Thanks the Strangers Who Saved His Life After Cardiac Arrest
Not everyone gets a second chance in life. For Winnipeg resident Mark Smith, that second chance came thanks to the quick thinking and compassion of complete strangers who refused to let him die on a snowy sidewalk.
Smith, 62 at the time, had been out for a jog along Wellington Crescent on December 6, 2015, when his heart suddenly stopped. He collapsed without warning and has no memory of the event—only waking up five days later in a hospital bed after emergency surgery.
Everything that happened in between is nothing short of extraordinary.
Read the original CBC article here:
Grateful Winnipeg man thanks strangers who helped save his life
A Community of Strangers Steps In
Teacher Jaime Boulerice and her friend Liz Morales were across the street when they noticed a figure hunched over on the ground. Unsure if it was a rock or a person, they rushed toward it—and discovered Smith, unconscious and not breathing.
They quickly laid him flat. Another man immediately began CPR, while a second bystander called 911.
CPR continued for nearly 10 minutes—keeping Smith alive long enough for paramedics to arrive. First responders used a defibrillator at the scene and again in the ambulance to restart his heart. Smith later underwent triple bypass surgery.
Boulerice and Morales spent almost a year wondering if the stranger they tried to save had survived. They finally received their answer when CBC reunited them.
“Without this angel, I was gone.”
Smith’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous. Doctors lowered his temperature to protect his brain, performed life-saving surgery, and monitored him closely for days.
It was only then he learned the truth:
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He had suffered sudden cardiac arrest.
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He received continuous CPR from bystanders for roughly 10 minutes.
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Paramedics shocked him twice using an AED.
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Only about 8% of people survive this scenario outside a hospital.
Smith is alive today because those four strangers acted immediately.
“Without this angel, I was gone. I am alive today because of them.”
After months of rehab, Smith returned to his role as a researcher in epidemiology—grateful for the gift of more time.
Why Immediate CPR Matters
Cardiac arrest can strike without warning, even in seemingly healthy people. When the heart stops beating:
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Blood flow stops instantly
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Brain damage begins within minutes
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Every minute without CPR reduces survival dramatically
CPR buys time.
AEDs restart the heart.
Together, they save lives.
The majority of cardiac arrests occur in public spaces or at home—meaning you could be the first responder.
Be Ready to Save a Life
You don’t need medical experience to save someone—you just need training. Our certified First Aid & CPR courses teach you:
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How to recognize a cardiac arrest
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How to perform high-quality CPR
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How to use an automated external defibrillator (AED)
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How to stay calm and take action during emergencies
Start learning today so you can be the lifesaving difference for someone tomorrow.
Learn more about our First Aid & CPR Courses:
https://firstaidcalgary.ca/
Serving Calgary and the surrounding areas the lowest priced, highest quality OH&S approved first aid training, CPR and food safety courses for over 15 years!
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