Mark Paquette (CENTER) poses with members of the Fairhaven Fire Department who saved Mr. Paquette’s life when he suffered from a major heart attack on 9/13/24 and his heart stopped, requiring paramedics to revive him while he was in the ambulance in the driveway of his Fairhaven residence. Photo from Fairhaven Firefighters Association, Local 1555, Facebook page.
By Beth David, Editor
Mark Paquette thought he was having heartburn, although he had never had it before so he wasn’t quite sure what it felt like anyway.
“Come to find out, I was having little mini-heart attacks,” Mr. Paquette said in a phone interview.
Then he had a couple of other episodes: one when he was sweating a lot, and the Tums just didn’t seem to be helping as much. He called his son to take him to the hospital, but his son called 911. They both arrived at the same time on Friday, 9/13/24
“They literally saved my life in the driveway,” said Mr. Paquette. Paramedics assessed him quickly, according to a post on the Local 1555 Facebook page. They confirmed he was having a heart attack and then his heart stopped requiring immediate defribillation.
He was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River where they operated on him, putting in stents.
Mr. Paquette, 56, said his heart stopped again at the hospital.
“When they put the stents in, the very next day, I felt like a million bucks,” said Mr. Paquette, a carpenter, who is anxious to get back to work, but has to wait until he is cleared by his doctor. He was out of the hospital by Monday.
“It could’ve gone south,” said Mr. Paquette, adding everything was “perfect” because it happened in the ambulance where paramedics could work on him immediately.
Mr. Paquette paid a visit to Group 4 at the Fairhaven Fire Department and treated them to lunch to say thank you. Then he called the Neighb News so the community will know about the actions of the parademics.
“I just thought these guys should be recognized for what they do,” said Mr. Paquette. “I didn’t realize how hard their job is.”
He said he is old school, does not go to the doctor as often as he should, and was stubborn about it that night, too. But he was especially grateful that his son had the sense to call 911.
“I would’ve died in front of my son,” said Mr. Paquette. “That’s how quick it happened.”
He said doctors tell him he is headed for a full recover, but it will be a long time, several months. Meanwhile, he can’t work. He cautions anyone who has heartburn who never had it before.
“Chances are there’s more going on than what they think,” he said.
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