Man searches for airline passenger who saved his life

PHOENIX (NBC, KYMA) - A man's heart stopped on a flight from Omaha to Phoenix, and now he's searching for the passenger who saved his life.

"There are no words you can say. I was gone. They said I was dead and brought back," said Patrick McGee, a 77-year-old man who suffered a heart attack as his Southwest flight was landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport last Wednesday.

The last thing he remembers was talking to the woman sitting next to him.

"Just basically talking about life and then the next thing I know, I'm in an ambulance and I ask, 'What's going on?' and they said, 'Well, you had heart failure,'" McGee remembered.

McGee later learned it was that same woman who saved his life performing CPR until he was resuscitated.

"I was just amazed with how the world is these days how fortunate one could be to have somebody who steps up like that and brings you back," McGee shared.

Now from his room at the Arizona Heart Hospital, McGee is desperately trying to find her.

"I owe this person a great deal. She brought me back and I have a son, grandkids, wife, brothers and I'm still here with them because of her," McGee expressed.

His nurse, Katie Smolsky, is helping McGee in his search after being amazed by his story..

"It was not your time, you are meant to be here, people were looking out for you," Smolsky remarked.

Smolsky says this passenger's brave actions also shows how valuable knowing CPR is.

"Immediate CPR can truly change someone's life and can save their life and the face that someone was there in that moment and able to save his life and we're here and able to proceed with the procedures he needs is incredible," Smolsky spoke.

McGee says he hopes to give the woman a hug and share his gratidude for bringing him back to life.

"If you're out there listening to me right now, thank you so very much," McGee said.