CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The American Heart Association will host its annual Heart Walk Saturday in uptown Charlotte to raise money, save lives and help people make lifestyle changes.
Randy Alridge now knows the importance of keeping his heart healthy after he suffered a heart attack August 2016. He reunited Friday with the paramedics who saved his life that day.
Alridge was the picture of health and an avid runner for more than 40 years.
He finished second overall in a race at Birkdale Village in Huntersville, but he knew something was wrong when he was done.
“I couldn’t stop sweating. It was like the thermostat inside me was broken,” Alridge said.
His wife tried to take him to a hospital, but the traffic was too congested, so they went to find paramedics at the race.
“I wouldn’t say everything was getting dark, but it wasn’t getting light, either,” Alridge said.
Alridge ended up having a heart attack in the back of an ambulance on I-77.
“She leaned over to do something, and when she did, I looked at her and said the last thing I was ready to say, ‘Don’t let me die,’ and I said it as stern as I could say it with very little strength,” Alridge said.
Minutes later, his heart stopped.
Paramedics quickly pulled their ambulance off Exit 16, and called Charlotte Fire for help to save his life.
“He was actively losing heart tissue due to a clog,” paramedic Justin Rowe said.
Rowe said they shocked him with a defibrillator and gave him 100 chest compressions. After three minutes, his heart was beating again.
Rowe said Alridge is proof that heart attacks can hit anyone.
“Randy almost has no risk factors, great shape, avid runner,” Rowe said.
“It’s reminded me how much a gift we have every day,” Alridge said.
Medic plans to be at the Heart Walk to help anyone who may need it.
Eyewitness News anchor John Paul will emcee the event on behalf of the American Heart Association.
Event organizers hope to raise $2 million.
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