A man who climbed Mount Everest to install a defibrillator reports that the device saved a woman’s life three weeks later. David Sullivan, 62, traveled to the Himalayas for this purpose and believes he’s placed the highest defibrillator in the world, at over 16,000 feet above sea level.
After losing four close friends to sudden cardiac arrest before the age of 45, Sullivan started Code Blue CPR, aiming to provide CPR training and install life-saving equipment in remote locations. Earlier this year, he trekked to an altitude of 22,000 feet, then descended to a village near Everest Base Camp, where he installed the defibrillator for emergencies.
He returned home on April 30, and just three weeks later, he received a call that the defibrillator had been used to save a 30-year-old woman after her heart stopped. Sullivan recalled, “It was… on Friday (May 23rd), around 3:45 am. I have kids traveling the world, so at first, I was like, ‘Oh, my god, something happened.’”
Learning that his efforts had made a difference was a significant moment for him. He described it as “the proudest moment of my life.” While in the region, he also trained local sherpas and villagers, sharing how crucial it is to have easy access to defibrillators.
“It’s incredible that something so simple can save someone’s life,” he emphasized. Sullivan noted that being within three minutes of a defibrillator can increase survival odds from 8% to over 50%.
Reflecting on his personal experiences, he mentioned a time when he had to use CPR shortly after being trained. He performed CPR on a young man and utilized a defibrillator, which profoundly impacted him when he later learned that the young man survived.
With plans to train 1.2 million CPR students through school initiatives, Sullivan aims to ensure that every school is equipped with defibrillators and that everyone—students and staff alike—receives the training necessary to potentially save lives.
“We won’t stop until we achieve that,” he asserted.
