A Marin County Sheriff’s Deputy has been credited with helping to save the life of a 53-year-old cyclist who was found unconscious and not breathing while north of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. near San Geronimo Valley on Sunday morning.
A bystander who performed CPR on the man before the deputy arrived also should be honored for her heroic actions, said Sheriff's officials who are trying to find that citizen.
Several 911 callers reported the cyclist just north of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. on Nicasio Valley Road. The man, who lives in the Sacramento area but frequents Marin for rides in rural West Marin, was biking with his 14-year-old son when he experienced a cardiac episode, according to Marin County Sheriff's Lt. Douglas Pittman.
Pittman said the man's son was riding his bicycle ahead of his father, but turned around when his father did not catch up to him.
"There was a previous incident on a previous ride and they had an agreement that if they became separated, the one in front would stop and wait," Pittman said.
Marin County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Boden was in the area and arrived on-scene in two minutes. Boden quickly determined that the bicyclist had not been struck by a car and was probably experiencing a serious cardiac event.
Boden quickly deployed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and evaluated the subject’s heart rate. After the AED diagnosed the heart as “in distress,” he administered an electric shock that stopped the arrhythmia, a dangerous heart condition known as, and let the heart reestablish an effective rhythm.
The boy arrived by his father's side just as Boden was giving his father first aid, Pittman said.
Within minutes paramedics of the Marin County Fire Department arrived at the scene and continued treatment, transporting him to Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae where he received emergency medical treatment. According to his immediate family, he is in the Intensive Care Unit at Marin General Hospital under medical observation.
The Sheriff’s office is currently attempting to identify the citizen who stopped and administered CPR before Boden’s arrival to thank her for her life-saving efforts. Both firefighters and medical personnel credited her actions and those of Boden in determining the immediate need to use an AED which they believe saved the life of bicyclist.
