A routine workday from home became a life-or-death situation for a professional who noticed early heart attack symptoms and acted quickly. In a widely shared LinkedIn post, George Booth, a corporate investigator in the San Francisco Bay Area, recounted flatlining 19 minutes after reaching the hospital due to a complete arterial blockage.
Booth wrote that on June 16 he experienced what felt like death. He described chest pain that began the previous day but was initially dismissed. During a video call around 11:30 a.m., he suddenly felt hot and nauseous, with pain extending to his left armpit, leading him to recognize the emergency.
He gathered items, stepped outside, sat on the sidewalk, and dialed emergency services. Strangers walking nearby stayed with him until help arrived. Upon hospital arrival, his heart stopped, and he recalled fading into darkness before resuscitation efforts restored him. The heart ceased twice more in the catheterization lab before two stents were inserted.
Booth emphasized that prompt action prevented death at home. He advised others not to ignore symptoms such as chest pain, arm discomfort, nausea, sweating, or breathing difficulty, and to call emergency services immediately rather than attempting to drive.
