Elderly Man Meets Rescuers For First Time In Emotional Reunion

By Todd Quinones

DARBY, Pa. (CBS) - It was a one-in-a-million kind of scenario that saved his life. A 64-year-old man was driving and began to go into cardiac arrest and crashed. Fortunately he crashed in front of Darby Fire Company 1.

For the first time since he nearly died, Bill Pitts got to meet the men and women who saved his life.

"They brought me back to life. I was dead for seven or eight minutes. I tell you this: it's a lot better than being dead," said Bill Pitts.

In May, Pitts was driving a tow truck down Chester Pike when he lost consciousness and crashed right in front of the fire station on Chester pike.

"Mr. Pitts was in the right place at the right time. The firehouse he crashed in front of, Darby firehouse, had a paramedic and an EMT on duty. They got to him right away," said EMS Mercy Health System Deputy Chief Gary Vinnacomb.

Just a few minutes later, Pitts was rushed to nearby Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital where he underwent quintuple bypass surgery.

Pitts shook hands and hugged everyone who helped him.

Thursday was his chance to say thank you.

Physician assistant Sarah Van Dyke contends if Pitts hadn't crashed in front of the fire station, he likely wouldn't be here today.

"We took him to the operating run and did five coronary artery bypasses," said Van Dyke.

"It's tremendous, just to be able to say thank you," said Pitts.

For his wife of 44 years, she's grateful they'll be able to celebrate their 45th anniversary in September.

"When I wake up in the morning I think I'm not supposed to have this time and I do, and I feel so blessed," said Ann Marie Pitts.

Pitts is now officially retired. He says he plans on spending a lot of his time with his three sons and four grandchildren.