Fisherman dies following emergency response in Volusia County, officials

Deputies, paramedic recall rescue efforts to save fisherman in cardiac arrest

A 911 call came in at 6:45 a.m., and a VSO dispatcher immediately provided CPR instructions while Air One launched and located the boat. The man was transported to shore and then to the hospital. Officials say that despite everyone's efforts, the man did not survive.

DE LEON SPRINGS, Fla. - After a coordinated search and consistent CPR from multiple people for over ten minutes, a fisherman from Astor died after experiencing a cardiac arrest while he was out on the lake Sunday.

After receiving a 911 call around 6:45 a.m., Aug. 23, Volusia County first responders quickly mobilized to locate the man, 56, while a dispatcher gave CPR instructions over the phone.

What we know:

The call came in Sunday morning as "CPR in progress," Flight Paramedic Matt Brunelle explained during a Sunday afternoon press conference following news of the man's death.

As first responders worked to respond to the call, they faced a few obstacles including: finding the victim's vessel and getting the pontoon to shore – all while continuing life-saving efforts.

Watch: Full press conference

VSO details rescue attempt for fisherman's medical emergency on pontoon | FULL

FULL PRESS CONFERENCE | Volusia Sheriff's Office deputies and flight paramedics detailed their response to a man suffering a medical emergency out on a pontoon in Lake Woodruff. They responded to a "CPR in progress," finding a woman "performing resuscitation efforts on her dying husband." First responders took over CPR and got the patient back to land, but he ultimately died, the sheriff's office reported.

Locating the pontoon

Initial calls reported the incident was in Lake George, but information quickly identified the victim's pontoon was in Lake Woodruff. Brunelle – being within miles of the location – quickly changed course and spotted the pontoon from above in the helicopter.

Brunelle said he quickly observed the situation – seeing no other vessels were nearby – and decided to drop onto the boat from above. He was the first responder on scene, the sheriff's office said.

The man's wife was performing CPR on her husband. Brunelle said.

"There was going to be an extended time before we could get additional resources to her," Brunelle said. "Due to the condition he was in – he was in cardiac arrest, she's doing CPR – I didn't really think it through all the way."

His thought was: "I just need to get down to her and help her," Brunelle said. He took control of the vessel as the wife continued CPR.

Meanwhile, deputies were also using coordinates to find the pontoon and render aid.

Deputy Jevon Gardner said his familiarity with the zone and De Leon Springs helped him to coordinate with his partner to find the vessel. On land, Gardner saw a boater in De Leon Springs Park, who assisted in taking the deputies to the pontoon.

10 minutes of CPR

Gardner and Deputy Jared Shaheen switched off between providing the man with CPR consistently – from the time they got onto the boat until they reached the shore.

Gardner described the urgency of performing constant CPR – the only tool they had at their disposal during the initial response.

"CPR was the only thing we could do out there in that environment," Brunelle also noted.

Around five to 10 minutes later, the pontoon met with the fire department's boat, who brought a cardiac monitor and medical equipment on board. The fire department took over rescue procedures as Brunelle continued driving the pontoon to shore.