A Canadian tourist’s visit to a Central Florida theme park took a dramatic turn when he suffered cardiac arrest while returning to his hotel in November 2025. The quick response from first responders and advanced care at AdventHealth Orlando are credited with saving his life.
Robert Rehaluk, a forensic psychiatrist from Toronto, collapsed unexpectedly. Will Hall, who works as an EMS liaison at AdventHealth Orlando and is also employed part-time at the park, was on the scene and began CPR immediately.
“I knew we had to act quickly,” said Hall. “In those moments, you don’t think about anything else, you just focus on keeping the patient alive.”
Hall recognized that Rehaluk was a candidate for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) CPR. This program—launched last year by AdventHealth and Orange County EMS—is unique in Central Florida and offers advanced life-saving interventions for severe cardiac emergencies. The ECMO procedure takes over heart and lung function temporarily, giving physicians time to address underlying causes and improve survival rates.
Orange County has designated AdventHealth Orlando as a comprehensive resuscitation center. Local EMS teams transport qualifying patients directly to this facility while providing automated CPR during transit. To be eligible for this specialized care, patients must be between 18 and 70 years old, have no terminal conditions, and be within 45 minutes of the hospital.
“If it wasn’t for the first responders and the care I received at the hospital, I don’t think I’d be alive today,” said Rehaluk. “The kind of care and compassion they showed was unbelievable.”
Upon arrival at AdventHealth Orlando, Rehaluk was alert and did not require ECMO after further evaluation. He received comprehensive treatment from the hospital’s cardiac team focused on both immediate needs and long-term health. Within days of his incident, he returned home to Canada with his family.
“It’s a team effort, from the first responders at the park to the incredible cardiac team at AdventHealth,” Hall stated. “I’m just grateful we were able to give him a second chance.”
Rehaluk expressed gratitude toward everyone involved: “They didn’t think twice about helping a complete stranger… Thank you for giving me a second chance at life.”
The actions of Hall and other first responders were formally recognized for their coordination during this emergency.
AdventHealth Orlando is located in Orlando, Florida. Established in 1908, it serves as both a training hospital and pediatric center under its current president Terry Shaw.
Programs such as ECMO CPR aim to improve outcomes in critical situations by bringing advanced resources closer to patients when every second counts.
For more information about innovative cardiac care or to find local resources or specialists, visit AdventHealth Orlando’s website.
