What began as a peaceful morning stroll along Croatan Beach nearly ended in tragedy for a New Jersey couple, until a group of surfers emerged from the water at exactly the right moment. The October 2nd incident serves as a powerful reminder of how timing and the presence of skilled individuals can mean the difference between life and death.
Todd and Donna Rowan, who have been married for 34 years, were enjoying the scenic beauty of the beach, observing surfers and dolphins playing in the waves. Without warning, Todd went into cardiac arrest and collapsed face-first onto the sand.
Initially, Donna believed her husband was joking around. That belief quickly dissolved when she noticed his skin turning blue, signaling a life-threatening emergency. His heart had stopped beating.
“I screamed his name and screamed for help: ‘God, please help Todd,'” Donna recalled.
Medical professionals happened to be nearby
Fortune smiled on the couple that day, as two individuals in the water who heard Donna’s desperate cries both happened to be healthcare professionals. Tyler Volpe, a physician assistant employed in Virginia Beach and a Croatan resident, had been surfing for over two hours—longer than his usual session because conditions were favorable that morning.
Paul Roy, 24, also responded to the emergency calls. Roy works as a healthcare provider at a nearby hospital and had similarly been enjoying the morning surf.
The two men immediately sprang into action, with Tyler administering chest compressions while Roy provided rescue breaths. They alternated positions to maintain their energy levels during the critical lifesaving effort. Meanwhile, another beachgoer comforted Donna, embracing her and offering prayers during the terrifying ordeal.
Community effort saves a life
The rescue quickly became a community effort. Two additional men elevated Todd’s legs to improve blood circulation to his vital organs. Other surfers positioned their surfboards as barriers to protect the group from the advancing tide. Someone placed a call to emergency services.
“They kept him alive until the ambulance got there,” Donna said. “It could have been two minutes; it could have been 10 days. I was watching my life end with his.”
The Rowans had originally intended to begin their drive back to New Jersey that Sunday morning. Donna expressed gratitude that they delayed their departure for a beach walk, as the cardiac arrest occurring during the drive could have resulted in a far more devastating outcome.
Todd underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery two days following the beach incident. Donna was able to locate Tyler and Roy through online channels, and Tyler made an in-person visit to see the couple after Todd’s recovery began.
“We know that God put you there on the beach with us that day,” she told him. “It could have had a really different ending.”
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. Psalms 91:15 (NKJV)
