Off-Duty Officer Revives Stricken Man At Wal-Mart

FISHERS, Ind. -- An Indianapolis man had less than a 5 percent chance of surviving a cardiac arrest he suffered at a Fishers Wal-Mart store last month, but an off-duty police officer was able to save Wendell Hunsucker's life.

Fishers police Sgt. Darrin Emmons arrived at the store off 96th Street with his wife and son on June 25. Inside the store, Hunsucker, 80, had collapsed, wasn't breathing and was turning blue, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

"He was unresponsive, starting to turn blue," Emmons said. "There were a couple ladies doing CPR on him."

Emmons rushed to his patrol car to get his automated external defibrillator. He shocked Hunsucker once with the device, and they continued administering CPR before shocking Emmons again.

Hunsucker began breathing. The fire department arrived at the store a short time later.

"It's kind of nice that you're able to take an instrument given to you and utilize it and actually bring somebody back," Emmons said.

Hunsucker said he doesn't remember anything about the incident, but he has a newfound spring in his step because his family told him how fortunate he is to still be alive.

"I've never had a problem like that. It was just boom," he said. "I hope the town boards and all continue to let the policemen carry these with them at all times."

Hunsucker now has an internal cardiac defibrillator to monitor his heart. A day after he was released from a hospital, Hunsucker felt fatigued and fortunate at the same time.

"I've been trying to win the lottery for 25 years," he said. "I guess I won it. I've got my life."

All Fishers officers are equipped with an AED. On average, the department uses the device three to five times a year. This was the first time Emmons had used one on a patient.