Every Second Counts: How an AED Saved a Grandfather on the Pickleball Court

Mike Mueller, 61, from Swansea, Illinois, had multiple heart tests done a few years ago and was free of any blockage. However, blockage can occur quickly. He recently started feeling pressure in his chest but didn’t believe it could be his heart. For a few days, a lingering cough—maybe bronchitis—was the reason he hadn’t been feeling well. On Dec. 26, 2024, while playing pickleball at the local YMCA with his son, who was in town for the holidays, Mike started feeling winded and dizzy.

“I’d been playing for over an hour,” Mike says. “I was sweating, short of breath, and just didn’t feel right. Then everything went black.”

The power of an AED

Mike collapsed suddenly. His son, who at the time was finishing his medical residency as a foot and ankle surgeon, assessed the situation, jumped into action, and began CPR. Another man, a visitor in town from Idaho, yelled out to call 911 and sprinted to retrieve the onsite automated external defibrillator (AED), a portable device used in emergencies to treat sudden cardiac arrest. A YMCA trainer arriving for a session also stepped in to help with chest compressions.

An AED can analyze the heart’s rhythm and if necessary, deliver an electrical shock to help restore a normal heartbeat. AEDs are designed to be user-friendly, allowing even untrained individuals to use them effectively in critical situations. In Mike’s case, the AED was used twice. His heart restarted and he had a return of spontaneous circulation before paramedics arrived.

At that moment, Mike’s wife was walking the track on the upper level of the YMCA. She knew he was playing pickleball but was unaware of what was happening on the court below. She saw all the commotion, then noticed her son speaking with paramedics and went down to the pickleball court to see what was happening. She was surprised to see her husband lying on the ground.

Mike woke up and saw the faces of his wife and son. “The first two people I saw when I came to,” Mike said. “That moment is something I’ll never forget."

A lifesaving stent

Mike was taken to Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois, where doctors discovered a total blockage in one of his heart’s arteries. A stent was placed immediately.

The staff at Memorial Hospital were wonderful and took great care of me,” Mike says. “They told me it was like the plaque in that artery exploded and created 100% blockage because I was working my heart so hard, and it killed me instantly. If the AED wasn’t nearby and working properly, I likely wouldn’t be alive today.

“I didn’t know my heart had stopped,” Mike says, “I thought I just passed out. “But it was a full cardiac arrest. The AED saved my life with the help of my son and the two gentleman who were there alongside him.”

Back on the road to health

Thanks to the quick intervention and the AED, Mike had minimal heart damage and began cardiac rehabilitation. He completed his rehabilitation at Memorial Hospital, where his heart was monitored, and he received guidance on healthy lifestyle changes. 

“The cardiac rehabilitation staff were amazing, and they gave me goals to work toward, including a healthy diet.” Mike says. 

At 61 and recently retired, Mike is focused on what matters most: spending time with his family. He’s a proud grandfather of six grandsons, and recently welcomed his seventh grandchild, a baby girl. 

“I want to be around for a long time to enjoy our kids and grandkids,” Mike says. 

And when his son returns to the area this summer after finishing his residency program, Mike looks forward to getting back on the pickleball court with him. 

“He saved my life,” Mike says. “He was my hero. I look forward to playing a few more games with him and enjoying my second chance at life.”

“If that AED wasn’t there, I likely wouldn’t be here. It’s that simple. Every place needs one, and I plan to spread the word about the importance of AEDs and how they can save lives.”

For information on heart health, visit bjc.org/heart.