Heart attack survivor meets the Sedgwick County first responders who saved his life

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A heart attack survivor got to meet the Sedgwick County first responders who helped save his life on Monday.

Karla Flora saw her husband, Jeff Flora, go into cardiac arrest in July. She immediately began chest compressions until responders arrived, all while staying on the line with 911 operators.

The firefighters and paramedics who saved Jeff's life say they were just doing their job, but without the calm response from the 911 operator who took the call, things could have ended very differently

She was grateful to meet her patient and the woman she coached face-to-face. She says meeting her patient and the woman she coached face-to-face was something here

In July, Karla dialed 911. Jeff was having a heart attack and was unresponsive.

"My husband, he's unresponsive right now," Karla told the 911 operator.

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Hunter Corbin, the 911 operator, picked up, doing what she normally does

"Letting them know that they aren't alone. Even though they are, technically, you are there with them over the phone," said Corbin.

To Karla, on the other end of the line, Corbin's response was the difference between life and death.

"She just kept counting. Which it's amazing what just counting, something as simple as that, keeps you focused," said Karla.

"Count out loud with me so I can count with you. 1... 2... 3... 4... 1... 2... 3... 4..," Corbin told Karla.

It took over 300 consecutive compressions, but after six minutes, first responders arrived to take Jeff to the hospital. He went home after two weeks. Now, they're meeting face-to-face for the first time.

"I couldn't wait to get here ... I couldn't thank them enough for what they did," said Jeff.

"To see him standing and alive right next to me is crazy ... It makes me emotional. Because you don't get to see them all the time, he gave me a hug and thanked me for everything that I did for his wife," said Corbin.

Without his wife's quick response, Jeff says he wouldn't be here.

"She's a hero. She gets everything she wants," laughed Jeff.

Corbin has been a 911 operator for five months and says the opportunity to meet Jeff and his wife in person is rejuvenating, saying:

"It's so cool to see that even though I'm on a phone – on the screen – I'm not there physically I am making a difference."