Triathlete Meets Rescuers Who Saved His Life During NYC Triathlon

Chris LaPak of Long Island had a massive heart attack while swimming in the Hudson during the first leg of the NYC Triathlon. On Sunday he was reunited with the rescuers who saved his life.

Just three months after his heart stopped for 11 minutes while competing in the New York City Triathlon, Chris LaPak reunited with the heroes who saved his life.

Doctors dubbed the survival of the 52-year-old Long Island man the second “Miracle on the Hudson,” but LaPak rejected the title.

“I’m not the miracle,” said an emotional LaPak, 52, surrounded by the first responders, firefighters and doctors who brought him back from the dead.

“The miracle is the amazing group of people that followed an amazing program to bring me back to life,” LaPak said. “I don’t have the words to thank them enough.”

LaPak of Copiague, L.I., suffered a massive heart attack during the first leg of the Aug. 3 triathlon — a 1,500-meter swim in the Hudson. His heart stopped for 11 minutes.

Rescuer Dan Perlmutter, 35, was the first to reach LaPak, putting him onto a surfboard. D.J. Paulson, 27, Matt Sallusto, 19, and Joe Salonia, 34, all arrived on jet skis and pulled LaPak 70 yards to a FDNY marine unit.

Read more and see photos: Nydailynews.com

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