Two off-duty medical professionals saved the life of Rob Christenson after he collapsed in cardiac arrest during a pickleball game on June 14 at the Pickle Factory in Bel Air.
Christenson, a physician, experienced sudden dizziness before losing consciousness on the court.
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Ed Koerber, a retired respiratory therapist playing on an adjacent court, rushed to assist.
"I kind of jumped over the net and rolled him over, and I couldn't get a pulse. He was pulseless, and he wasn't breathing.
And so, I started doing CPR," said Koerber.
Koerber maintained continuous chest compressions while another player moved to secure emergency defibrillation equipment.
Mary Simpler, a cardiovascular nurse at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, retrieved the venue's automated external defibrillator.
"I threw my paddle and ran directly for the AED," said Simpler.
Simpler deployed the defibrillator to administer a shock before chest compressions were resumed.
"By the time I got back to the court, Ed was still in CPR. We put the pads on him and told us, 'Shock,' and we shocked.
Ed started CPR again, and Bob woke up," said Simpler.
Following the shock and continued compressions, Christenson regained consciousness on the court floor.
"His color started to perk up, and he actually started to open his eyes, and he asked me what I was doing beating him up," said Koerber.
Data recorded by the defibrillator revealed the entire rescue was executed in less than 20 seconds.
