ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Morris Holmes was unconscious when American Medical Response technicians performed CPR on him several times in October of last year. On Thursday, he was able to personally thank everyone involved who saved his life.
The Rochester American Heart Association held a ceremony for everyone involved in rescuing Holmes when he went into cardiac arrest, including 911 and AMR dispatchers and a Rochester Police Department officer.
Holmes says he can't remember everything that happened during the rescue but he is thankful to be alive.
"Like I said, I would still be in that dark state of mind I was in," he said. "I see all of this as beautiful, it's beautiful. Normally you would never catch me smiling, all I do now is smile. I'm a very happy man."
The American Heart Association says heart disease and stroke are the top causes of death.