Marshall County first responders recognized for saving man whose heart stopped while behind the wheel

MADILL, Okla. (KXII) - A Texoma man is back to everyday life after his heart stopped while driving to work, sending his car into a tree and leaving first responders racing to save him.

Bill Ellis said he texted his supervisor that he was heading to the hospital before losing consciousness.

“I texted the supervisor, ‘I’m headed to the hospital, I don’t feel right,’” Ellis said. “And that’s when I guess I made it to the funeral home.”

Madill firefighters arrived to find Ellis unresponsive in his vehicle.

“He was actually slumped over the steering wheel,” Madill Fire Chief Mike Idleman said. “At that point in time, he wasn’t breathing, didn’t have a pulse.”

Idleman said crews began CPR immediately.

“The faster you can start compressions, the faster you can start getting that oxygen pumping through the blood is crucial,” Idleman said.

Marshall County EMS arrived shortly after. Within minutes, Ellis had a heartbeat.

Marshall County EMS Capt. Paramedic Jade LeBouef said the outcome was uncommon even by first responder standards.

“In our line of work, it’s not super uncommon for us to get a pulse back, but to get the outcome that Mr. Ellis has is super rare,” LeBouef said.

LeBouef credited the team’s rapid assessment of the scene.

“All the hands involved in this, we’re super thankful for,” LeBouef said. “Recognizing that it was a low-speed impact, medical condition that probably caused this and getting him out to start compressions fast is huge.”

Ellis woke from a coma three weeks after the incident and has since returned to everyday life.

“It’s all about gratitude,” Ellis said. “As long as you’re grateful and kind, that’s what we’re supposed to do.”