Bobby Hunt was sitting in a meeting at Atlanta Gas Light in 2025 when he suffered a second heart attack, and it was the quick thinking of the coworkers around him that he says saved his life. Many of those employees had CPR training, and they immediately recognized what was happening and jumped in to help.
Doctors later told Hunt that his coworkers' fast response played a critical role in his survival and in getting him back home to his wife and two children, according to WSB-TV. “That episode changed my life,” Hunt said, reflecting on the moments that nearly took everything from him. He has since made a point of publicly thanking the coworkers who helped save his life.
Living With Congestive Heart Failure, Teaching Others to Save Lives
Today, Hunt lives with congestive heart failure, but rather than stepping back, he has leaned into volunteering with the American Heart Association, where he now teaches others about CPR and the warning signs of heart disease. “CPR is a great way to be there for other people,” Hunt said, according to the outlet's report. His message carries extra weight given how close he came to not making it home.
His story lands at a moment when the stakes of bystander intervention are especially clear. Nine out of 10 cardiac arrests happen outside of a hospital, and the American Heart Association says nine out of 10 people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, per the American Heart Association. But the same organization notes that immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chances of survival, which is exactly what happened in Hunt's case.
Every 34 Seconds, a Life Lost to Heart Disease
The numbers behind Hunt's near-death experience are stark on a national scale. Someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds, per the same organization's data cited in the WSB-TV report. Since the American Heart Association's founding in 1924, deaths from cardiovascular diseases have been cut in half, the group says, a reminder of how far awareness and training have come even as the disease remains a leading killer.
That broader mission is part of why the Atlanta Heart Walk, scheduled for Saturday at 7:45 a.m., matters to organizers this year. Thousands of people are expected to participate in the walk to raise awareness about heart disease and the importance of CPR training. Atlanta Gas Light CEO Walt Farrell is serving as chair of this year's Heart Walk, and the company has framed its involvement around a broader commitment to serving communities.
Building a Community of Trained Lifesavers
Katie Schijffelen, executive director of the American Heart Association Atlanta, said creating more lifesavers through CPR and AED training is a major focus for the organization heading into the walk. It's a goal that echoes efforts already underway elsewhere in the region — the outdoor services company Boutte Tree announced that all 77 of its employees achieved CPR certification through CPR Training School in Alpharetta, according to CPR Training School. The company said its certified crew members are now prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies while working at homes, commercial properties and public spaces across the Atlanta area.
For Hunt, the lesson is personal rather than statistical. He walked away from a meeting-room emergency with his life intact because the people around him knew what to do and didn't hesitate. Now he's spending his time making sure more people in Atlanta can say the same.
