Man Had Heart Attack In Cape May County; He Was Saved

NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ — Edward Kashmere was at the beach Oct. 2, enjoying beautiful weather with temperatures in the 80s. A few hours later, he found himself in a hospital's critical care unit.

Kashmere had a heart attack. His wife, Kim, called 911, and first responders took him to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus in Pomona. The provided advanced life support along the way.

Thanks to their assistance, Kashmere is doing well. The family lives in Limerick, Pennsylvania, and owns a home in North Wildwood. They returned Dec. 3 for the North Wildwood Council meeting, where Kashmere and Mayor Patrick Rosenello formally thanked the first responders.

“Because of your long hours of training, work and professionalism, my wife is with me instead of her being alone right now,” Kashmere said. “My daughter Victoria will now have her dad to walk her down the aisle some day and my son James will have his dad with him to enjoy the many things that a father does with his son."

Kashmere, 60, said his father had a heart attack at age 58 and his mother had one at 59. Other family members have also suffered from heart disease.

The Pennsylvania man knew he was at risk, so he recognized the symptoms. He felt symptoms as he rode his bike from the beach to his home that day. That's how he knew they needed to call 911.

“By the time they were heading out of the building, Mr. Kashmere was breathing on his own and was able to give (the first responders) a thumbs up and a weak, ‘Thank you,'” Rosenello said.

Kashmere presented the first responders with a box of cookies his daughter made. She’d decorated some with the Star of Life, which the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) uses as its logo, and others in the shape of a heart with rhythm lines.

“As I celebrate Christmas, I include all of you in our family joy,” Kashmere said. “It was clear to me that it was a miracle from God above that I had survived the ordeal that had transpired.”

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