Doctor Performs ‘Miracle’ After Rescuing ‘Frozen’ Man With No Heartbeat Or Pulse

Jan 24, 2019 by apost team

To most, it sounds like a plot twist from a science fiction movie but it is in fact, a true story. Back in 2015, a Pennsylvania man named Justin Smith, 26, somehow survived after he spent 10 hours in the freezing cold during an east coast winter.

On Feb. 20 of that year, Justin had been on his way home around 9:30 pm from an evening drinking with friends at a local social hall in Tresckow, PA. Despite the temperature being bitterly cold, Justin often walked the two-mile trek in order to avoid drinking and driving, reported Penn Live. 

Doctors believe that he must have slipped and hit his head before he landed face up with eyes open in a snowbank, which was exactly where he was found the next morning by his father, Don Smith. Don found his son without a pulse or heartbeat around 7:30 am on Feb. 21 after he was alerted by a friend of Justin's that they hadn't heard from him. The temperatures had plummeted that night to -4 degrees Fahrenheit and yet miraculously this young man lived to tell his tale. Don told Penn Live:

"I remember holding him. He was so cold, frozen. He was like a block of concrete."

As miracles go, credit needs to be given to both the paramedics and the doctor that worked to save Justin's life. Despite the state that Justin was in when paramedics rushed to the scene, they did not declare him dead immediately but instead performed CPR and arranged a transfer to Lehigh Valley Hospital. Once Justin arrived, Dr. Gerald Coleman, an emergency medical physician, was assigned to his case.

The Lehigh Valley Health Network reported that Emergency Room workers weren't able to get a body temperature reading since Justin was so cold. For two hours, 15 ER workers performed CPR on Justin and began to slowly warm his body. But more drastic measures were needed. Dr. Coleman arranged a helicopter transport to another LVH hospital where a procedure named extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was used to save Justin's life. During the 18-minute flight, a nurse and paramedic continued to perform chest compressions in order to maintain a flow of blood to Justin's brain. The nurse, Tim Hickey, revealed to Penn Live that he thought "People in this situation don't survive." 

But once Justin arrived and was connected to the ECMO machine, progress was made. An ECMO machine allows the heart and lungs to rest while it pumps out blood from the body and oxygenates and warms it before sending it back. The procedure was performed by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. James Wu and proved to be life-saving. He told Lehigh Valley Health Network that he "gave (Justin) a 50-50 chance for recovery." 

After around 90 minutes Justin's heart began to beat, and 15 days later he awoke from his coma. Miraculously, doctors were shocked that Justin had not suffered any brain damage. However, he did lose all of his toes and his two pinkies due to frostbite, but things obviously could have been much worse. A neurologist at the hospital, Dr. John Castaldo explained that while organs can be preserved in the extreme cold since the body is put in a state of suspended animation, when ice crystals are formed in the bloodstream death often follows soon after. He told Penn Live that "Justin was right on the brink." When test results confirmed Justin had no brain damage, Dr. Castaldo said, as reported by Lehigh Valley Health Network:

"We were jubilant ... We believed there was a miracle unfolding in front of us."

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Of his treatment method, which ended up saving Justin's life, Dr. Coleman told Penn Live:

"This case has taught me that sometimes you have to go with your gut, even when all logic demands otherwise."

Thanks to the hard work of the doctor and paramedics, Justin did not lose his life. He remained in the hospital and at another rehabilitation center for the following few months and eventually came home on May 1. Justin and his family were incredibly grateful to all of the medical team involved in saving his life. He said:

"I'm just grateful. I'm proof of what can happen when great people work together."

Dr. Castaldo told WNEP-TV, as reported by CBS News:

"When you look at the science of what happened to Justin, it was really hard to imagine that anyone on Earth could survive this."

Following his recovery, Justin continued with his studies at Penn State, where he worked on finishing his psychology degree. He also had to relearn how to walk and use his hands after losing his toes and some fingers. A keen golfer and sportsman, Justin didn't let the incident or his injuries get in the way of his passions, as he continued to spend weekends improving his golf game. Of his ordeal, Justin told CBS:

"It's like I woke up from a dream, but it wasn't a dream, you know."

 Meanwhile, Dr. Coleman told the news outlet:

"Things happen for a reason ... This just kind of renewed the faith of why I do what I do every day." 

What an incredible story of survival! Have you ever witnessed an unexpected recovery? Let us know, and if you found Justin Smith's story inspiring, pass it along to your friends and family!