Pilot survives heart attack thanks to Flight 1 and whole-person connected care 

From ER to air to cath lab, a seamless system delivered lifesaving treatment in under 90 minutes.
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  • Jodie Mailman
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Care
Patient reunites with Flight 1 team

ORLANDO, Fla. – When pilot David Hayes felt a strange tingling in his jaw on Easter Sunday, he had no idea he was about to become a powerful testament of how whole-person connected care saves lives. 

What began as a quiet morning in 2024 quickly turned critical. The tingling spread to Hayes’ neck, back and chest. His wife didn’t hesitate: “We’re going to the ER.”

Once he arrived at AdventHealth Lake Nona ER, the emergency team moved fast, performing an EKG which confirmed Hayes was having a heart attack. From there, AdventHealth’s Flight 1 helicopter was dispatched to fly him to AdventHealth East Orlando, where doctors in the cardiac catheterization lab were prepped and ready to provide the critical care needed.  

“Time is of the essence for our patients suffering from a heart attack,” said flight respiratory therapist Leigh Zeedyk. “We knew we had to act quickly to get him to the cath lab so they could save his heart.” 

Less than 90 minutes after his first symptoms, Hayes was in recovery.

“They had a protocol, and they followed it perfectly,” he said. “Everybody knew what everyone was doing. It was seamless.”

David Hayes reunited with the Flight 1 team

More than a year after his heart attack, Hayes got the chance to reunite with some of the team who saved his life and share just how impactful their care had been. 

“Thanks for taking care of me. Everything you did was perfect. And I’m still here, a year and a half later, talking about it.”

For Zeedyk, the reunion was deeply meaningful.

“It brought the entire journey full circle. From the ER to the air to the cath lab, this is what whole-person connected care looks like.”

David’s experience demonstrates how quick action from the AdventHealth care team helped him return home to the people he loves. It’s moments like these that remind us: every heartbeat holds a story, and every person deserves whole-person care — body, mind and spirit.

Heart attacks can happen without warning. Know the signs, act fast, and trust a team that’s ready for you. Click here to schedule a heart screening today to take the first step toward protecting your heart.

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