A devoted father suffered a sudden heart attack while playing football with his two children in a Florida park, only to be saved by the quick thinking of his teenage son who recognised the life-threatening symptoms.
Park Football Game Turns Into Medical Emergency
Rene Chirinos was enjoying a kickabout with his sons David, 17, and Elias in St. Petersburg, Florida, when he suddenly began struggling to breathe and clutching his chest. The otherwise healthy family man experienced severe chest pain along with other classic heart attack symptoms including dizziness, sweating, and shortness of breath.
"I lost the ability to feel on the left side of my hand," Rene recalled of the terrifying moment. "I thought, 'is this going to be my last breath, God?'"
Teenager's Hospital Training Proves Lifesaving
David Chirinos immediately recognised what was happening to his father, having recently visited a hospital on a college trip where he learned about heart attack symptoms and chest compressions. The teenager sprang into action, calling emergency services while remembering the medical training he had received just weeks earlier.
"We had learned about heart attacks and chest compressions," David explained modestly. "I remember, they had taken us through a class and they showed us how to correctly do chest compressions."
Emergency Response and Hospital Treatment
Paramedics rushed to the park scene and transported Rene to HCA Florida Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, where he underwent surgery to have a stent placed in his heart. Medical staff have praised David's immediate response, noting that his recognition of symptoms and prompt call for help were crucial factors in his father's survival.
Rene is now recovering well and expressed profound gratitude during a special ceremony at the hospital. "Thank the Lord Jesus that we are still here," he said emotionally. "I mean I'm so glad that I was in good hands."
Military Coin Honors Teen Hero
At Monday's ceremony, hospital staff awarded David with a military challenge coin—a special honor typically reserved for emergency service partners and community members who perform exceptional acts. Lindsay Douthitt, stroke coordinator at Northside Hospital, explained the significance of the recognition.
"A challenge coin is a military custom and it's essentially a tangible job well done, a token of appreciation," Douthitt told ABC affiliate WFTS. "We designed it for our community partners, our EMS, our fire, but also we want to extend that to our community members when we have something such as in David's case."
Raising Awareness About Heart Attack Symptoms
Hospital officials hope this incident will raise awareness about heart attack recognition and response. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone in the United States experiences a heart attack every 40 seconds, with approximately one in five heart attacks being "silent"—causing damage without the person being aware of it.
Common symptoms that David recognised in his father include:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Unusual sweating
- Pain radiating to arms, neck, or jaw
Rene also had the opportunity to meet and thank the first responders who attended his emergency call, completing a full circle of gratitude for the medical chain that saved his life during what began as a simple family football game in the park.
