Firefighters, citizens recognized for lifesaving measures

SAN RAMON – On Wednesday, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors recognized several firefighters and citizens for providing lifesaving measures to a Danville man who went into cardiac arrest during a soccer game last year.

On the evening of November 26, 2019, Danville resident Hadi Esfahani collapsed during an indoor soccer game at the East Bay Sports Indoor Soccer Center in San Ramon.

Several citizens recognized Esfahani was experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest and began rendering aid. They provided chest compressions and rescue breathing while another person dialed 911 from a cell phone.

The 911 call was received by call-takers at the San Ramon Valley Communications Center who dispatched medical personnel. Four minutes after being dispatched, Paramedics with SRVFPD Station 38 arrived at the scene and took over lifesaving measures.

Sixteen minutes later, paramedics delivered Esfahani to the Emergency Room at San Ramon Valley Regional Medical Center, where doctors continued lifesaving measures.

He was released from the hospital within a few days.

At Wednesday’s monthly SRVFPD board meeting, the citizen responders Farshad Khodayari, Max Saiidnia, Amir Kazemi, and Dr. Omar Basharmal were recognized along with Captain Clinton Pruett, Engineer Tracy Tidd, Firefighters Gary Stephen, Liam Clauzel, and Albert Glancy were recognized for saving Esfahani’s life.

Also in attendance during the meeting were his wife, Zhila, and several former patients who survived cardiac arrests after being treated by SRVFPD personnel.