High school coach reunites with OC firefighter who saved his life during cardiac arrest at park

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (KABC) -- A high school football coach reunited Monday with the Orange County firefighter who saved his life after he suddenly went into cardiac arrest at a local park.

The incident occurred as Rob Frith, a coach at San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano, was playing pickleball in December.

Orange County Fire Authority Firefighter Firefighter John Rowlands, who was off duty at the time, "heard the commotion, and immediately jumped into action," the OCFA said. "Thanks to early recognition and a coordinated team effort, 911 was called right away as John began chest compressions."

Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies arrived at the scene, followed by OCFA paramedics. The deputies used their automated external defibrillator to deliver two shocks, and firefighter-paramedics began advanced life support, including additional shocks and medications.

"Because of the rapid, coordinated response, Rob was awake and talking in the ambulance as he was transported from the scene - an outcome that is rare in cardiac arrest cases," the Fire Authority said.

At San Clemente's Fire Station 59 on Monday, Frith had the opportunity to thank Rowlands in person.

"It hit me so fast, I just dropped," Frith told reporters. "The next thing I remember is I was in an ambulance and looking at two paramedics. I think I looked at them and just kind of said, 'Well, if I'm looking at you two guys right now, something bad must've happened to me.' And I think the response was something like, 'No, you're looking at us right now -- I think something really good happened to you.'"

Rowlands, another off-duty firefighter and a nurse happened to be playing on the adjacent pickleball court when Frith went into cardiac arrest.

"The situation deteriorated and Rob had stopped breathing and we couldn't feel a pulse," Rowlands recalled. "So I started chest compressions."

Rowlands added that it was "really cool to know that we had the right people there at the right time."