Survivor thanks rescuers on World Restart a Heart Day

On Sept. 8, 2025, John Bonhotal suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while checking in for a Southwest Airlines flight at Albany International Airport. On Oct. 15, he hiked Vly Mountain, one of 35 Catskill Mountains that are taller than 3500 feet.

Bonhotal returned to the airport on Oct. 16, World Restart a Heart Day, where Colonie EMS hosted a reunion between Bonhotal and the four people who started the “Chain of Survival” that ultimately saved his life.

When Bonhotal collapsed, Southwest agents Patrick “Brady” Tripp and Michelle Nestler sprang into action, calling 911 and beginning CPR. Deputies Matthew Ryan and Thomas Connelly of the Albany County Sheriff’s Department were first to arrive and continued CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). By the time the Albany Airport Fire Department and Colonie EMS arrived, Bonhotal was conscious.

“I was on my way to Phoenix to visit my daughter, then on to Colorado to meet a friend to hike in the Rockies,” Bonhotal said. “Two weeks before, I had hiked 30 miles to prep for this trip. I say this because I felt great.  But you never know when – and who - sudden cardiac arrest will strike. I have ‘Brady’ Tripp, Michelle Nestler, Deputy Connelly and Deputy Reilly to thank for saving my life. My family and I are forever in their debt.”

“This rescue shows what can happen when preparation meets partnership,” said Peter Stuto, CEO of Albany International Airport. “From airline employees to law enforcement and first responders, every link in the chain of survival worked exactly as it should, and John is living proof of that.”

“The American Heart Association started building a Nation of Lifesavers in 2023, after Damra Hamlin was saved by CPR,” said Michael-Aaron Poindexter, program director at The Food Bank and chair of the board of directors of the American heart Association the Capital Region. “We are committed to changing the statistic that only 1 in 10 people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest, survive. Because the chain of survival – calling 911, starting CPR, and calling for help – worked, John Bonhotal can look forward to climbing more mountains. We’re proud to honor all of the rescuers with Heartsaver Hero Awards.”

“Mr. Bonhotal's survival is a testament to the team that came together to form the Chain of Survival from sudden cardiac arrest to hospital admission,” said Michael Dailey, M.D., chief of prehospital and operational medicine at Albany Medical Center, a member of the Albany Med Health System, and EMS medical director for the Town of Colonie and the Albany Airport Fire Department. “Early recognition and initiation of chest compressions are the keys to saving lives - thanks to Brady and Michelle, John is here with us to celebrate World Start a Heart Day."