Mr. Petkus was on his way inside a restaurant in Port Orange, Fla., with his wife when he heard a “horrible thud,” according to a report from The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
He then turned around and saw Mr. Kirk face down on the pavement of the eatery’s parking lot, with no pulse.
According to the report, Mr. Petkus turned Mr. Kirk over and performed CPR. Still no pulse.
Then Mr. Petkus decided to try a closed-fist wallop to the chest, which he had seen done before at Halifax.
Shortly after Mr. Petkus thumped Mr. Kirk and raised his head up, Mr. Petkus felt Mr. Kirk begin to breathe again, reports The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Medics eventually arrived, and physicians said Mr. Kirk, who has a history of heart problems, had a cardiac arrest.
Mr. Kirk recently had an aortic valve replacement at Halifax, and he also had cracked ribs due to pressure from the CPR, according to the report. Mr. Petkus has since checked on Mr. Kirk at the hospital.
