A Mandeville man, Ronnie Lightell, was saved from cardiac arrest during an Uptown New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, thanks to the quick actions of three good Samaritans. The event led to a surprise reunion between Lightell and the people who helped save his life.
The Heart-Stopping Moment
On Friday night, during the Cleopatra parade, Lightell’s wife was riding, and Lightell was watching the parade with his longtime Marine Corps buddy, Jules. Suddenly, Lightell felt dizzy and told his friend, “I feel real, real dizzy. I need to sit down.” The next thing he remembered was seeing the fourth float.
Then, without warning, he went into cardiac arrest.
The Lifesaving Actions
Cardiac arrest is deadly without quick intervention, such as using a defibrillator. Before emergency medical services could arrive, three paradegoers rushed to help. They began chest compressions, while Jules performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Lightell later spoke with his cardiologist, who confirmed, “If those people hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t be here.”
The Emergency Response and Reunion
At the same time, WWL Louisiana was covering the rising number of emergency calls along the parade route. Bill Salmeron, chief of New Orleans EMS, confirmed that Lightell survived and was in the ICU.
After the story aired, the good Samaritans contacted WWL Louisiana, expressing their desire to meet the man whose life they had saved. They didn’t know he had survived.
In an emotional surprise reunion on Monday, Lightell met Justin Bernier, a nurse at the VA hospital, and Blake Hirstius, a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, along with a third person, Cher Babin, a surgical tech at West Jefferson Medical Center.
Emotional Meeting and Gratitude
As the men hugged, Bernier and Hirstius said, “Hey, I’m so glad you made it. Honestly, we didn’t know you were alive until that story.”
Lightell, filled with emotion, said, “Thank you. My wife thanks you. My family thanks you. I appreciate it. I don’t have words to express my gratitude.”
Bernier shared his experience, saying, “We did chest compressions for about 15 minutes, shocked him three times, and then used the LUCAS machine. We didn’t expect him to make it. Glad you made it, man. Awesome.”
Lightell was moved as he said, “We’re getting ready to have another grandkid, and that’s what my wife told me, ‘He wanted you to be here to see that.’”
Hirstius added, “For him sitting here and like finding out he’s got another grandbaby on the way, like makes you feel really good.”
Life After the Incident
Lightell, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who also worked for the U.S. Postal Service, is now recovering through cardiac rehabilitation to regain his strength. He was overwhelmed with gratitude, saying, “Words can’t describe it. I mean, thank God. I was praying that I would meet them someday.”
