Riverton family saves man’s life after he went into cardiac arrest at Christmas dinner

RIVERTON – A Riverton family’s quick action in a terrifying moment of medical crisis saved a man’s life.

The Cathey family had gathered for Christmas dinner in Riverton. The Cathey’s adult children had joined in, including Bob and Heather Watson who traveled from Southern California.

“Bob had just come into the dining room and was sitting at the table with his wife, and my daughter who is 11.” Brittany Giaccani, Bob Watson’s sister-in-law, said. “They were going to play a board game.”

No one expected what would happen next.

“He collapsed on the floor,” Brittany Giaccani said.

Bob Watson had gone into cardiac arrest. His heart abruptly stopped beating, and he was unconscious. Home security cameras captured the fall from a birds-eye view.

“We were terrified about what we were witnessing,” Brittany Giaccani said. “I immediately called 911.”

The camera footage showed each family member assertively taking action to help. Some moved furniture to make way for first responders, others took pets and children downstairs. While Brittany Giaccani got a dispatcher on the line, she yelled for her husband Kyle Giaccani who had gone outside.

“I was across the yard at our house,” Kyle Giaccani said. “I ran all the way back over here when I heard my wife screaming to come back. I knew immediately something was wrong.”

Kyle Giaccani worked as an EMT about 10 years ago.

“I checked for a pulse. And once the dispatcher said to start CPR – it clicked in my mind. I put hands on his chest and started,” Kyle Giaccani said.

Emergency medical responders arrived approximately six minutes after Brittany Giaccani made the 911 call. Kyle Giaccani did chest compressions that entire time, manually pumping Bob Watson’s heart for him.

“We were all very concerned,” Brittany Giaccani said. “First responders shocked Bob five times.”

30 minutes of lifesaving action played out in the Cathey home, and Bob Watson was transported to an Intensive Care Unit. He was in a local hospital for three days and discharged on Saturday.

“We are so grateful that he is here with us,” Brittany Giaccani said. “There was a portion of time when we all questioned if he was going to make it.”

Doctors performed a heart surgery and placed a defibrillator at the hospital. Family members said the 43-year-old has led an extremely active life, including jujitsu, swimming and diving.

He suffered from pneumonia earlier this year. The pneumonia spread and turned to atrial fibrillation. The AFib was reoccurring and returned the Monday before Christmas. Doctors believed that caused Bob Watson’s heart to stop.

Doctors will perform a cardiac ablation next month to test where AFib has damaged the heart. Specialists will cauterize the parts of the heart that keep causing the irregular and very rapid heart rhythm. Bob Watson didn’t have any broken ribs from the CPR, but family said he suffered burn marks from the multiple heart shocks.

“We feel an immense gratefulness for EMS and first responders,” Kyle Giaccani said. “The sacrifice they make to give up their nights, holidays and weekends, all so that we can be safe during those times. This has reminded us of the importance of knowing CPR.”

Medical professionals praised the Giaccani, Watson, and Cathey families for their calm and intentional response during a frightening crisis.

Doctors said only 5% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.

“It’s like a Christmas miracle that he made it through! We are all so very grateful that he is here and home from the hospital. It’s a Christmas we will never forget,” Brittany Giaccani said.

Brittany Giaccani shared the home video on TikTok, where the viral clip currently has nearly 260 thousand likes.