Man shocked by paramedics' gesture after suffering heart attack while gardening
A homeowner who experienced a massive heart attack while trying to meet a strict deadline has been astonished by a kind gesture from the emergency service workers who had just saved his life.
Gene Work and his brother were desperately laying the final four palettes of turf to the front yard of his Florida home in a bid to beat a deadline from the homeowner’s association.
At the risk of receiving a fine from the association, the 40-year-old continued to work his way across the lawn until he eventually started to feel ill.
Forced to retreat inside to beat the heat, his wife Melissa who is about to undergo a bone barrow transplant, immediately knew something was wrong.
He collapsed, experiencing a massive heart attack – but even while he was in and out of consciousness, he was worried about the grass dying.
After already pawning his favourite gun to cover the costs, he was aware that his family would not be able to afford new lawn.
Paramedics rushed Gene to hospital, while his brother delivered on his promise to keep laying the turf.
“As he was laying it, he heard huge trucks driving back down the road. He turned around and saw the fire truck and ambulance had come back. He was confused and thought they were coming to check on him,” Melissa said in a moving Facebook post.
Seven firefighters and paramedics jumped out of their vehicles, put their gloves on and got to work.
“They came back!!! They saved his life, dropped him off and then cared enough to save our GRASS,” Melissa wrote.
“They didn’t know our HOA was going to fine us. They didn’t know that this guy’s wife (Me) is about to fight for my own life during my bone marrow transplant next month.”
“They simply saw someone in need, something in need and did this for us. This wasn’t in their job description.
“We have no words. Just sobbing.”
Gene, who had significant blockage in his carotid artery and had to have stents placed, is now recovering at home.
