PNE staff member Mike Nasr was pivotal in keep Harry Louie alive until paramedics arrived in 2022, then saved son Jayson this year
Article content
It’s quite something to help save someone’s life, but to have done it twice?
Not only that, the two life-saving events Mike Nasr played a key role in happened two years apart, almost to the day, and it was a father and son.
Article content
“They play (hockey) during the same ice time, so the chances kind of get a little more (likely). But yeah, I didn’t really realize that was the case (at first),” Nasr, a stores supervisor with the PNE, said on Monday after receiving a Vital Links award from B.C. Emergency Health Services.
Advertisement 2
Article content
On Feb. 16, 2022, Harry Louie, then 75, had been playing hockey with his son Jayson at the Agrodome and began feeling light-headed. While waiting for paramedics to arrive, Nasr stayed with Harry, giving him aspirin and monitoring his heart attack.
Then on Feb. 21 this year, another hockey player suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, this time after leaving the dressing room postgame. It was Jayson, 52, and, unlike his dad, he lost consciousness, then his vital signs.
It took a team springing into action before paramedics arrived, and they all also received Vital Link honours, awarded by B.C. EHS to citizens who helped save a life through cardio-pulmonary resuscitation: Mark Knowles, of PNE’s operational health and safety office; Harj Sandhu, PNE security; and the Louies’ teammates Michelle Preston, Brad Wilson and Matt Heffring.
“I owe these people my heartfelt deepest thanks,” Jayson said. “It’s a bit surreal to say one afternoon I was there, then for several minutes I don’t remember anything, and here I am again.
“I only remember walking to the exit and collapsing, that was a scary moment.”
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Wilson, a former lifeguard, and Preston, who while rusty had had extensive first-aid instruction earlier in life, both said that at first Jayson wasn’t displaying the usual symptoms of cardiac arrest.
When Nasr arrived on the scene, less than a minute after getting a call on his radio, Preston was administrating CPR with Heffring while Wilson ran to grab one of the of the eight automated external defibrillators (AED) that is in each PNE building. Once on the scene, Nasr, Knowles and Sandhu took over.
Harry, who like his son says playing hockey again is a goal, had joined the other players for a light pregame skate, then watched from the stands.
When Jayson later collapsed on the way out of the rink, Harry wasn’t sure at first what was happening.
“I was just wondering what’s going on here, everyone was acting so concerned all of a sudden,” Harry said.
Jayson suddenly sat down, then laid down. Preston and Wilson described him as the perfect patient.
“He didn’t throw up on us, and he put himself on the ground so there’s no spiral, no weirdness.”
Jayson hadn’t complained of any heavy weight on his chest, but his pulse couldn’t be located and he wasn’t breathing except for agonally, which isn’t actually breathing but the oxygen-starved brain causing a gasping reflex.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“That was the scary moment, it was obvious something was going on other than Jayson just not feeling well,” Harry said.
Thankfully, their three teammates who had hung around knew what to do.
“I haven’t been trained for anything like that, there wasn’t much I could do,” Harry said.
Until now, there had been no history of heart trouble in the family that father or son are aware of.
A couple of weeks after his cardiac arrest and being released from the hospital, Jayson made his way over to the Agrodome to watch his friends play during their weekly Wednesday afternoon ice time, and he bumped into Nasr.
“There was a lot of shaking of hands, lots of hugging,” Jayson said.
Bringing someone back to life with the shock of an AED is one of the things Nasr is trained to do and he downplayed it humbly, saying he was just following the training he’s had.
But it was a shock that he had administered that got Jayson’s heart beating again. That’s why Nasr, on top of the Vital Links recognition, was also honoured with B.C. EHS’s Good Samaritan award, presented to individuals who have provided unselfish and humanitarian assistance during a medical emergency.
Advertisement 5
Article content
“He had no vitals at all, that is the first time I’ve dealt with a heart attack,” said Nasr, who is more familiar with treating injuries. “I’ve never brought back somebody with no vitals, very different for sure, very nerve-racking when you first show up and see what condition the person is in, you’re kind of caught off-guard.”
He’s proud of his awards, but gets more joy out of seeing both men are doing and feeling better today, he said.
“To me, seeing both of them healthy and happy really is my reward.”
gordmcintyre@postmedia.com
x.com/gordmcintyre
Recommended from Editorial
-
ThunderVolt roller-coaster at PNE Playland on track to open in July
-
Vancouver extends public plaza drinking program through spring 2025
Article content