Full circle: Man saves friend from heart attack with CPR after son was saved with the same life-saving measure

Full circle: Man saves friend from heart attack with CPR after son was saved with the same life-saving measure

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — At least three times a week, you’ll find Steve Raichilson at the Chagrin Valley Athletic Club.

“I’ve been a member here since 1990," he said.

He’s played tennis here for years “with the same group of guys," explained Raichilson.

And he loves all of the friendships he has made.

“The gentlemen we helped, him and I have been playing tennis probably for 15 years together," he said.

He’s talking about one recent tennis match that ended abruptly when his friend, Jack, collapsed.

What You Need To Know

• Before emergency responders arrived on scene, Steve Raichilson performed CPR


• It saved Jack's life


• Just two years ago, his then 30-year-old son had a heart attack while on a hike and was saved also by CPR

“Oh my God, he stopped breathing. You know, call 911," recalled Raichilson of that day.

Before emergency responders arrived on scene, Raichilson jumped into action and started performing CPR.

“What seemed like eternity, but probably 6 or 7 minutes, he let out a breath. He was blue before we started, and he wasn’t breathing at all. He was totally nonresponsive, but after about 6 or 7 minutes of pumping with, you know, the chest compressions, he gave a gasp and a cough, and we felt like we won the lottery," said Raichilson.

“He definitely left for a while. Yeah, no question. But you got him back. We got him back," said Tommy, another friend who helped.

Raichilson wasn’t the only hero that day.

Jax Currington works in the Pro Shop and the AED Device training he learned in the U.S. Army helped save Jack’s life, too.

“Time is everything. You need to do what you have to do in the smallest amount of time possible because seconds are hours in that sense," said Currington.

And it wasn’t the first time. Last summer, Currington used the defibrulator on another person having a heart attack at the club.

“Two for two and both are alive so that’s the most important part," he said.

While working on his swing on the same court where it happened, Raichilson reflected on how things have come full circle for him and his family.

“She has her husband back and the kids have their father back. Just like we got our son back," said Raichilson.

Just two years ago, his then 30-year-old son had a heart attack while on a hike in Los Angeles.

Two EMTs who happened to be nearby performed CPR.

“They saved his life," said Raichilson.

That inspired the Raichilson family to host a CPR certification class at the Solon Fire Department last year.

Raichilson got certified that day. He never expected to need to use his skills, but he’s sure glad he was prepared when a friend needed help.

“He told me the doctors said if you didn’t get CPR, you would either have severe brain damage or you wouldn’t be here," he said.

Raichilson can’t wait for Jack to recover and join the rest of the guys out on the court.

“We were friends, but you know when you save someone’s life you have like a close bond that will never leave,” he said.