Citizen Heroes Honored for Lifesaving CPR at Dominion Valley Golf Course

Rick Stockwell's day on the golf course nearly turned tragic, but thanks to quick action from friends and first responders, it became a story of survival. 

Stockwell and his golf buddies Walt Huscilowitc, Bill Siddon and Les Pomeroy were playing in a tournament at the Regency Country Club at Dominion Valley when Stockwell suddenly collapsed on the first green. He had suffered a heart attack. 

When Stockwell suddenly stopped breathing, Huscilowitc leapt into action and began administering chest compressions with help from Siddon. Pomeroy called 911 and guided first responders to the scene when they arrived.  

Huscilowitc’s action bought Stockwell precious time. When EMS crews reached him, Stockwell was pale and unconscious and sweating profusely. The first responders immediately took over CPR, applied a defibrillator and delivered repeated shocks until his heart finally converted to a regular rhythm and a palpable pulse returned. 

Stockwell was then placed in an ambulance, where he received further treatment enroute to the hospital. During the ride, Stockwell showed remarkable signs of recovery with purposeful movements, good eye response and verbal communication. By the time he reached the hospital, he was alert to his surroundings.   

Stockwell’s wife, Marie Stockwell, learned of her husband’s collapse on a phone call from the course pro.  

“I just thought that he had had heat exhaustion or something like that, because it was a hot, humid day,” Stockwell said.  

But when she arrived at the green, the sight overwhelmed her. 

“When I saw all of them around him just beating on his chest, I just lost it. It wasn’t what I expected, and I still have a hard time with it,” she said.  

Prince William County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Jason Reese called Stockwell’s outcome remarkable.  

“Early interventions and activation of the 911 system is a key component to the Cardiac Chain of Survival,” Reese said. “Having a successful CPR with return of spontaneous circulation is not a common occurrence. Nationally, survival rate is around 20 percent with bystander CPR, without bystander CPR the national average is around 4 percent. Prince William County Fire and Rescue encourages everyone to learn CPR through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.”  

Stockwell said she was thankful to everyone who saved her husband’s life and comforted her during the ordeal. 

“Everyone was awesome. If it wasn’t for Walt, Rick wouldn’t be here. All three of them – we were just blessed all the way through it,” Stockwell said. “The rescue people were awesome – awesome with him, awesome with me because I was crazy.”  

Rick Stockwell, meanwhile, had his mind on something else.  

“One of his first questions when he came to was, ‘Did I make the cut?’” Marie Stockwell said.  

The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue recently awarded Huscilowitc, Siddon and Pomeroy with the county’s Citizen Hero’s Award for their lifesaving actions.  

Rick is now recovering and grateful to be back home with his family.