Man survives cardiac arrest at bowling alley after bystanders revive him

MASON, Michigan (Aging Untold) — Dennis Kelley went to the bowling alley for league night in December 2024. Without warning, he collapsed.

A 911 caller reported the emergency from inside the bowling alley as friends scrambled to help.

A retired paramedic who was nearby began assisting.

An off-duty deputy also responded. A third deputy who was patrolling the area answered the 911 call and arrived carrying an automated external defibrillator, also known as an AED.

CPR and the AED

First responders said those first few minutes, CPR and the AED helped save Kelley’s life.

Amy O’Rourke, an aging expert, said bystanders in situations like this tend to have one of two instincts.

“What goes through your mind when you’re watching this medical emergency? Two reactions. It’s fight or flight,” O’Rourke said.

Knowing where to find an AED

O’Rourke said that is why CPR matters. Bystanders can be the bridge between collapse and survival.

She also said knowing how to use and locate an AED is critical.

“Everybody needs to know, wherever they are, especially at work, where that equipment is in case someone has a heart attack,” O’Rourke said.

Kelley reflects on his survival

Kelley survived the event and reflected on the people who helped him.

“I think we have angels all around us on Earth in the form of people. People who help,” Kelley said.