94-Year-Old Warren Man Revived After Suffering Heart Attack On Flight

DETROIT (WWJ) - A 94-year-old Warren man says he is lucky to be alive after having a heart attack on a flight and being resuscitated by two Henry Ford Health System employees.

As WWJ's Marie Osborne says the pair were both cardiac rehabilitation specialists.

Sam Aliotta choked up with tears as he thanked Matthew Saval and Sheryl Sebastian for coming to his aid saying "I'm alright."

"Thank you kids ... thank you very much for everything," said a tearful Aliotta.

Aliotta who lives alone and still drives asked Saval if he was a doctor ...

"No, I'm not a doctor but I'm trained to respond to emergencies like that," said Saval. "With the help of Cheryl and the grace of God."

The three were on a flight from Denver to Detroit when Aliotta suffered a heart attack.

The two Henry Ford Health System employees sprang into action after realizing that Aliotta did not have a pulse.

"I looked over and you were slumped down in the chair, kind of sleeping and you wouldn't wake up - so I accessed you and noticed you didn't have a pulse and you weren't breathing," said Saval.

The two cardiac rehabilitation workers began CPR and stayed by his side until the plane landed in Detroit and Aliotta was transferred to an area hospital.