Springfield Man Survives Cardiac Arrest After 30 Minutes of CPR

When Brad Shoemaker’s heart stopped beating, time stood still. But thanks to the relentless efforts of Springfield’s first responders, Brad is alive today to share his story—a true testament to teamwork, training, and the power of never giving up.

Brad went into sudden cardiac arrest without warning. For 30 harrowing minutes, firefighters from the Springfield Fire Department, dispatchers from Sangamon County 911, Medics First paramedics, and trained emergency personnel worked in seamless coordination to keep Brad alive. CPR was performed continuously, even when the odds seemed stacked against him.

“They never stopped. They never gave up on me,” Brad said. “I’m standing here today because they kept going.”

The emergency call came in like any other. But what followed was a masterclass in crisis response. Dispatchers provided rapid, clear instruction. Firefighters were on scene within minutes, immediately initiating CPR. Medics First took over advanced life-saving measures. Every second counted—and every member of the emergency response team played a critical role.

Brad’s recovery is nothing short of a miracle. After being revived, he spent time in the hospital and has since returned home—healthy, alert, and grateful beyond words.

CEO of Medics First, Greg Chance says "Brad’s story is a powerful reminder of why CPR training saves lives". According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. In this case, it gave Brad a second chance at life.

Springfield Fire Department officials are using this incident to encourage more community members to get CPR certified.

“We train for this every day—but seeing someone walk away and live a full life again, that’s why we do what we do,” said one of the first responders.

As for Brad, he’s back with his family and forever grateful. “They are the reason I am alive,” he said. “And I’ll never forget that.”