NEARLY TOOK HIS LIFE. ONE MAN IS WORKING TO PLACE LIFE SAVING DEVICES IN PARKS ACROSS THE NATION. ERIN HEFT BRINGS US HIS MISSION IN A STORY YOU’LL ONLY SEE RIGHT HERE ON KCRA THREE. A PERFECT DAY ALONG THE SOUTH FORK AMERICAN RIVER. I MEAN, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT JUST BEING OUT IN NATURE, BEING AWAY FROM THE LOUD NOISES, THE THE PACE OF EVERYDAY LIFE. BUT NOT ALL DAYS HERE HAVE BEEN SO PICTURESQUE. NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO, JOE ELLIS, A TEACHER AND WHITEWATER RAFTING GUIDE, WAS OUT ON THE WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SEASON WHEN SUDDENLY SOMETHING FELT OFF. I STARTED GETTING KIND OF A BURNING SENSATION ACROSS MY CHEST. PRETTY SOON I GOT A LUMP IN MY THROAT. I STARTED THINKING, THIS ISN’T RIGHT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS ON THE WATER, HE PULLED EVERYONE OFF TO THE SHORE. AND AFTER I STEPPED OUT OF MY BOAT, I TURNED AROUND, PUT MY HAND ON MY BUDDY’S SHOULDER, AND THE LAST THING I REMEMBER IS WATCHING THE ROCKS COME OUT OF MY FACE. AND I REMEMBER BEING ABLE TO SEE MY EYELASHES OPEN UP. AND AT THAT POINT, I HAD STILL NOT REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HE AND I RETURNED TO THE SPOT. IT HAPPENED. NOW, KNOWING EVERYTHING, ELLIS WAS REVIVED FROM THE BRINK. HE HAD SUFFERED A SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST. AND WE MET WITH ONE OF THE MEN WHO SAVED HIS LIFE. MATT REID. HE SAID SHOCK ADVISED. SO WE ALL STOOD HERE AND SHOCKED HIM. AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT SHOCKED HIM. JOE’S OPENS HIS EYES AND HE’S JUST LIKE STARING AT ME. AND I’M LIKE, HEY JOE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THAT AED, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS A DEFIBRILLATOR IS THE REASON DOCTORS TELL ELLIS HE’S HERE TODAY. BUT IT WAS BY CHANCE HIS TEAM CARRIES THEM ON THEIR RAFTS. BUT NOW YOU PUSH IT. IT TELLS YOU PATIENT CALL FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. AN AED IS PERMANENTLY AVAILABLE IN THE PARK. HIS MEDICAL EMERGENCY HAPPENED IN. AND I’M ACTUALLY GOING TO PUSH THE BUTTON SO YOU CAN SEE. ELLIS NOW WORKING TO GET AIDES PLACED IN PARKS ACROSS THE NATION BECAUSE OF JOE’S INCIDENT. IT INSPIRED THIS AND ALL OUR MANAGEMENT. IT WAS A NO BRAINER. CHECK THAT BOX AND YEAH, CHOKES ME UP A LITTLE. THE COOL PART ABOUT THESE BOXES IS IF YOU LOOK RIGHT HERE. SO A PERSON COMES UP, THEY WOULD CALL 911. HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY ELSE IS GIVING CPR IF WE NEED IT. AND THEN ONCE YOU GET 911 BASICALLY THEY GIVE YOU A CODE. HAVING ACCESS TO AN AED IN THE SECONDS, HE NEEDED ONE. THE REASON HE’S HERE IN A PARK NOW, EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS TO SAVE LIVES IN HENNINGSEN. LOTUS PARK IN EL DORADO COUNTY. ERIN HEFT, KCRA THREE NEWS. TO USE THE AED BOXES, YOU SIMPLY CALL 911 DISPATCH. GIVES YOU A CODE AND WALKS YOU THROUGH HOW TO USE IT ON THE PERSON IN NEED. PARAMEDICS ARE ON THEIR WAY AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. A NEW LAW IN CALIFORNIA TAKING EFFECT JANUARY 1ST OF 2027, WILL REQUIRE AN AED, BOTH PRESENT AND ACCESSIBLE DURIN