Heart attack survivor thanks those who saved his life

PHOENIX (NBC, KYMA) - A man who survived a heart attack during a flight from Omaha to Phoenix thanked those who saved his life.

"It's really good to be alive first of all," said Patrick McGee, a heart attack survivor.

McGee, 77, is up walking and talking three weeks after his heart stopped on a Southwest flight from Omaha to Phoenix.

"I'm Irish. I'm supposed to be real lucky in life. Well, I am," McGee expressed.

For the first time since July 29, he's reuniting with three of the people who saved his life in the narrow aisle of the plane.

"That was your lucky day. You're not done here yet," said Nina Castro, a flight attendant.

McGee suffered a heart attack as the plane was landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, with Castro jumping into action, calling for doctors and nurses and grabbing an AED machine.

"Anybody can serve you a snack and a coke, but flight attendants have to be ready for any emergency situation at any time," Castro shared.

Retired critical care nurse Lora Holton was the first to start CPR and then, nurse practitioner Kaitlyn Louchheim, relieved her.

After a few minutes, he was breathing again.

"You opened your eyes and I will never forget you looking at me and I said, 'Sir, can you tell me your name?' and you did," Louchheim detailed.

"When I heard Kaitlyn say that he was breathing and opened his eyes, I literally melted down. It was overwhelming," Holton added.

The doctors, nurses and Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital has been helping him since as he's undergone open heart surgery.

"When we did his operation, your work was fully evident and it was really well done," said Dr. Rick Kirshner, cardiothoracic surgeon at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital.

Their team effort saved McGee's life.

"The right people fell into place. I don't know how much luckier I can be than that," McGee remarked.

But it's not all luck as his medical team said it was immediate, effective CPR that gave him a second chance.

"There's only a few critical minutes that you have to save a life," Holton said.

McGee will be going home soon, but he said he won't be leaving without knowing he now has a family in Phoenix.

"I can't wait to give my grandkids, my son, my brothers, all the people I love a big hug. It's my second chance to do so," McGee spoke.