By Ana M. Gonzalez, Communication & Marketing Volunteer

Thomas Fittro, with his wife, Linda

Thomas Fittro, 64, is on a long road to recovery. His life could have ended in a Marina del Rey parking lot if it weren’t for the lifesaving actions of a sport fishing company employee who came to Fittro’s aid when he suffered a heart attack.

On a Sunday afternoon in October, the semi-retired Fittro and a friend enjoyed a day of fishing with the Marina Del Rey Sportfishing Company. He caught three fish and was excited to bring them home for his wife, Linda, to cook for dinner.

Ten minutes after the boat docked, Fittro collapsed in the parking lot. Dale Vintinner, a cook for the sport fishing company, was still on board when he saw the commotion and ran to see what happened.

Vintinner admits he was afraid when he discovered one of his customers lifeless on the ground with a face that appeared “rubbery and purple.” He began using his American Red Cross CPR training. “When I started doing chest compressions, I saw life coming back into him,” he said.

Dale Vintinner

Vintinner had been certified in CPR and First Aid earlier in the year as part of the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles workplace training program. It was the first year his company provided training to its employees, and it was 51-year-old Vintinner’s first time taking a CPR course.

Fittro, a father of two and grandfather of four, was taken to Marina Del Rey Hospital, where his condition was “”touch and go,” according to Linda Fritto. She has no doubt that her husband, with whom she has shared 38 years, was saved by Vintinner and other emergency responders. Her first words to Vintinner were “You’re my guardian angel.”

Vintinner plans to be recertified in CPR and recommends that other businesses train their employees. “It was a euphoric experience to save someone’s life. I would not hesitate to do it again.”

As for Fittro, he is still recuperating from the near-death experience but looks forward to the day when he can get back on the boat with Vintinner. “Hopefully, one day we can go fishing together again.”

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