Utahn is reunited with the team that saved his life after a triathlon heart attack

BURLEY, Idaho — What would you say to the people who saved your life? Utahn Scott Smith, 47, was reunited with the medical care team Friday, whose quick actions made all the difference for him.

On July 27, Smith competed in the Spudman Triathlon race in his hometown of Burley, Idaho. It is an annual event that he loved and attended since moving from Burley. As he crossed the finish line, he began to feel uneasy. He trained extensively, including swimming in the Snake River in Idaho.

“My wife said, ‘A helicopter at this event? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?’ “We didn’t realize how much of a foreshadowing that could be,” Smith said later. “My neck started to hurt. Then I felt a certain tightness in my chest. I put it down to being tired after the race.”

When he began to feel sick, he went to the medical tent where a nurse took his vitals.

That’s when the team knew he was having a heart attack. Smith was loaded onto the Intermountain Health helicopter and flown to Twin Falls.

“Things like this don’t happen very often, but when they do, they’re pretty time-sensitive,” said flight medic Brett Cross. Smith had a “widow maker” heart attack, which typically has a fairly high mortality rate.

“Only about 12% of people survive these heart attacks outside of the hospital,” said physician assistant Brandon Pope.

Doctors were able to repair Smith’s heart and on Friday he was able to meet with the first responders who helped him.

“It was great to see him stand up and shake our hands and be healthy,” Cross said.

“I don’t know what I can tell them except that because of the care you took upon me, I can go home to my family and my family still has a father,” Smith said.

Smith says he feels better and healthier than ever.