Twelve minutes. That's how long Matias Escobar lay on the ground without a pulse while paramedics performed CPR after his heart stopped last October. Moments before, the healthy 38-year-old had collapsed due to a heart attack while running the final leg of the New York City Triathlon.
Escobar suffered an ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) — the deadliest type of heart attack. "It’s called the widow maker. .
.. They told me that it’s less than 2% of people that survive," Escobar told TODAY in an exclusive interview aired Thursday, May 30.
Against the odds, Escobar survived. After spending several days in the hospital in a coma and getting a stent placed in his coronary artery, Escobar made a dramatic recovery. But the near-fatal heart attack left the healthy triathlete and his doctors wondering what happened — and what signs could they have missed? Escobar had been a runner for over two decades and competed in many triathlon and Ironman races.
At the time of his heart attack in 2023, Escobar described himself as the epitome of health. The New York City resident ate a healthy diet, had no stress or anxiety, didn't smoke and rarely drank. A pre-race checkup revealed he had normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
In fact, Escobar had no obvious risk factors at all. His heart attack was unexpected and unexplained. Doctors say Escobar is part of a growing trend of younger, seemingly healthy adults having sudden cardiac events.
"In general, about 10-20% of people.
