Las Vegas man shares story of survival ahead of American Heart Association Heart Walk

A Las Vegas man shared his story of survival ahead of this weekend’s American Heart Association Heart Walk in Las Vegas.

“It’s a game of seconds,” Phil Young said. “It literally is a game of seconds.”

Young spoke with 8 News Now about a second that changed his life forever. Young will serve as the drummer at this year’s walk at the Las Vegas Ballpark.

The event raises awareness for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

“Every day is gratitude,” he said. “Every day I wake up.”

In March of 2025, Young, who has been a runner for his entire life, went for a routine run on the Lone Mountain trail. He stopped to use the restroom, and when he came out, the worst happened; his heart stopped.

“I collapsed,” Young recalled. “I was face down.”

He went into cardiac arrest, and two Air Force officers, who happened to be nearby, stepped in to help Young. One man performed CPR on him for nine minutes until he could get to the hospital.

Months later, Young and his family were able to reunite with the two officers. They remain friends and see each other often, he told 8 News Now. 

There, Young underwent surgery to repair a condition he didn’t realize he had: a myocardial bridge that blocked blood flow to the heart.

“When I ran earlier I would, I couldn’t breathe,” Young explained. “Well, now I realize it was because of the pinching, because of where my arteries bridged inside my heart.”

He was in a coma for days and spent nearly a month in the hospital, working to regain his strength back.

“The recovery was tough, but there is always somebody that would give anything to have your worst day,” Young said. “And my worst days are nothing compared to so many other people out there.”

After he was released, he underwent physical therapy and then slowly started running again. Young competed in the New York City Marathon just seven months later. Several months after that, he ran the Boston Marathon.

“I made it my purpose and my passion to be here for Boston,” Young said after running the Boston Marathon. “Which is my sixth running.”

Now, Young makes it his mission to pay it forward by sharing his story. He has also learned to perform CPR to help others in their moment of need.

“It was very, very emotional, knowing that somebody had saved your life,” Young said. “And now I wanted to make sure I could save somebody else’s life.”

More than anything, Young told 8 News Now he hopes this new chance and his effort to speak about it will continue to make a difference.

“Every scar that you have has a meaning to it,” Young concluded. “And it’s given to you for a reason.”

Young will serve as the drummer at this year’s American Heart Association Heart Walk, which takes place Saturday.