Irvine man meets paramedics who helped save his life

IRVINE, Calif. (KABC) -- Tania Salem feared the worst when her husband and father of their newborn baby girl collapsed at their home in Irvine and stopped breathing. She called the experience "terrifying."

"Call his name," the operator suggests.

"Patrick! Patrick! Patrick! Please no!" Tania yells.

When paramedics arrived, they began CPR, using a defibrillator, even using a tube to help Patrick breathe. He shortly began to breathe normally and was taken to Hoag Hospital in Irvine.

On Wednesday, Patrick and Tania had the chance to thank the men who revived him.

"They saved my life and I'm grateful for that, and it's an incredible experience to have a second chance -- actually a third chance at life," Patrick said.

In 2008, Patrick was given a heart transplant. Doctors don't believe the transplant is what caused his collapse, but Patrick is thankful nonetheless.

While answering emergency calls is something paramedics do every day, the men who saved Patrick's life say it's rare to reunite with one of their patients.

Robert Davidson, a firefighter and paramedic with the Orange County Fire Authority, said the reunion was "rewarding and so fulfilling."

"This is exactly our goal, our objective and why we do what we do," Davidson said.

Patrick remains in the hospital while doctors monitor his heart. He's expected to make a full recovery.