Medical volunteers recognized for saving woman’s life at Bellingham Bay Marathon
The Bellingham Bay Marathon medical aid team was honored in a ceremony on Tuesday morning after their actions saved the life of a woman who collapsed from a cardiac arrest while watching the race.
It was near the end of the race when a woman who was spectating fell to the ground, according to PeaceHealth Communications Specialist Anne Williams. A PeaceHealth nurse was the first person to jump into action, immediately performing CPR until the rest of the medical team arrived.
The nurse who began CPR, Andrew Grant, was attending the race as a parent. He was not with the medical team at the time, but he was the first to reach the patient’s side and begin chest compressions.
When the team did arrive, they used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to give the patient a shock, which brought her heart back to a normal rhythm. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and later released after making a full recovery, according to Whatcom County EMS Medical Program Director Dr. Ralph Weiche.
“350,000 Americans suffer cardiac arrest every year, and heart disease is the number one killer in this country. The problem with heart disease is, the most common presentation of heart disease is sudden cardiac arrest, just like this person had,” Weiche said. “The first time you know you have heart disease is when you have just died from it.”
Two things increased the woman’s chance of survival and likely saved her life, Weiche said. The first was the quick response by the medical team to provide defibrillation with the AED. Second was the even quicker response by Grant, who was able to provide almost immediate CPR.
“Bystander CPR can decrease your risk of mortality by two to three times,” Weiche said. “The combination of quick recognition, bystander CPR, and early defibrillation is what led to saving her life.”
The team’s quick response was critical because any delay when working on a cardiac arrest incident could mean death. For every one minute delayed, the odds of death increase by 10%, according to Weiche.
“(This is) why having AEDs in the public and at events like this is so important,” he said.
The team was honored for their actions with custom medals from the Whatcom County EMS office. The medals are engraved with the volunteers’ names and read, “For saving a life at the Bellingham Bay Marathon 9/21/2025.”
PeaceHealth doctors and nurses have volunteered with the Bellingham Bay Marathon since 2019, according to Williams. The medical teams are all at the event by choice, at three aid stations along the marathon route.
Bystander CPR in Whatcom County is at one of the highest rates in the nation. About 70% of witnessed cardiac arrests locally receive CPR from someone nearby, which is something everyone in the community should be proud of, Weiche said.
Several local organizations offer free CPR training, including fire stations and the Whatcom County EMS office on North Commercial Street in Bellingham.
The next CPR training at the EMS office includes training in Narcan use as well. That class is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 3.
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