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Long Beach Man Visits Lifeguards Who Saved His Life

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A Long Beach man delivered a personal "thank you" to lifeguards who recently saved his life as he was jogging on the beach.

Jerry Wilson, 38, went for his job on the beach in early August, when he suddenly collapsed of a heart attack. Lifeguards at a nearby tower saw Wilson slumped over, and immediately ran over to provide assistance.

"They acted real fast, real professional, (and) did what they needed to do," Wilson said.

The lifeguards found him without a pulse and breathless, and they immediately began CPR and defibrillation. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

After he regained consciousness, Wilson's family took a cellphone video of the lifeguards involved in the rescue, who had visited the hospital room.

"I can't tell you how happy we are to see Jerry doing well and recovering," Long Beach Fire Capt. Omar Naranjo said.

Lifeguards say Wilson's incident is the second time in 2015 they saved someone who was having a heart attack on the beach. Wilson says he continues to recover, and that he know how lucky he is.

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