On Dec. 19 in San Clemente, San Juan Hills head football coach Rob Frith suffered sudden cardiac arrest while playing pickleball. Off‑duty firefighter John Rowlands performed about 15 minutes of chest compressions until deputies used an AED and paramedics took over. Frith was conscious in the ambulance and later learned he had an undiagnosed heart defect. He and his family visited Fire Station 59 on Jan. 12 to personally thank the rescuers.
Off‑Duty Firefighter Performs Lifesaving CPR After High School Coach Collapses Playing Pickleball
CBS LA/YoutubeFrom left: John Rowlands and Rob Frith.
Rob Frith, the head football coach at San Juan Hills High School, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while playing pickleball in San Clemente on Dec. 19. An off‑duty Orange County firefighter, John Rowlands, was playing nearby and rushed over to begin chest compressions, helping keep Frith alive until emergency responders arrived.
Rapid Response on the Court
Witnesses say Frith collapsed suddenly during a game. Rowlands performed chest compressions for roughly 15 minutes while deputies and paramedics made their way to the scene. Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department used an automated external defibrillator (AED), and paramedics then provided additional lifesaving care.
Remarkable Outcome
Because of the coordinated, fast response, Frith was reportedly awake and talking by the time he was placed in the ambulance — an outcome that is uncommon in cardiac arrest cases. In the hospital, doctors treated him for sudden cardiac arrest and discovered a previously undetected heart defect.
“One minute you're there and enjoying time with friends,” Frith told KCBS. “It hit me so fast I dropped on the back of my head.”
Frith and his family later visited Fire Station 59 on Jan. 12 to thank Rowlands and the first responders who saved his life. Frith’s wife, Tara, called Rowlands and the team “our forever heroes,” expressing deep gratitude for their quick action.
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the critical importance of bystander CPR training, rapid AED access, and coordinated emergency response. Trained rescuers and available equipment can dramatically improve survival and recovery after sudden cardiac arrest.
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