Defibrillators save lives, says Windsor heart attack patient

A Windsor man is on a mission to get people more comfortable with using defibrillators.

Andrew Brown suffered a massive heart attack earlier this month after playing pickup hockey at Belle River Arena.

"(My friend) said to me, 'Man, you look really red.'" That's when I passed out," said Brown. "I woke up in Henry Ford (Hospital) after that."

Fortunately for the 51 year-old, his teammates were quick to come to his aid.

They gave him CPR and used the arena's defibrillator.

Now, Brown hopes others will do the same.

"Everybody should have defibrillator ready," he said. "If you're going out playing pickup hockey, if they're public skating, whatever. somebody in that arena should know where the defibrillator is and know how to use it."

Harold Wagner is a volunteer firefighter.

He saw his friend slumped over in the dressing room, and gave him CPR until the rink attendant brought the defibrillator over.

Brown is still recovering from emergency heart surgery at Windsor Regional Hospital.

He expects to be released any day now.