What began as a peaceful Sunday stroll along the Owensboro riverfront turned into a life-and-death moment for 62-year-old Tim Mulligan — and thanks to the actions of a quick-thinking Good Samaritan, Mulligan is alive today.
Just before 5:30 p.m. on May 11, Mulligan collapsed unexpectedly during a walk with his wife, Donna. His heart had stopped. Without hesitation, bystander Jacob Ranson rushed to help, dialing 911 and administering CPR under the guidance of emergency dispatchers until medics arrived minutes later.
“I heard a thud and turned around — he was lying face down on the ground,” said Ranson, who had just ventured to the riverfront with his wife and newborn after being cooped up inside for days.
“He wasn’t breathing. He was purple. They asked me if I knew CPR. I said no, but they walked me through it, and I just kept going until EMTs took over,” he said.
Ranson said emergency responders arrived quickly and used an automated external defibrillator to restore Mulligan’s heartbeat. He was placed on a ventilator and admitted to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, where he remained in critical condition for over a day.
Doctors later diagnosed Mulligan with a ventricular fibrillation arrest — a life-threatening condition that he said causes the heart to stop beating effectively. He received a surgically implanted defibrillator on Friday and is now expected to make a full recovery.
“The cardiologist said immediate CPR saved his life,” Donna Mulligan said. “We’ve always walked that path near the fountains on weekends — and Jacob just happened to be there that day. We call it divine intervention.”
Mulligan, who remembers little from the incident, said he is grateful for the help of strangers and the support of his family.
“I owe my life to my wife and to Jacob,” he said. “He’s my angel. The whole thing was a miracle — and I give all the glory to God.”
The emotional impact of the event was shared by Ranson, who said he has thought about Tim and Donna every day since. The two families have since met in the hospital and plan to stay in touch — even discussing future dinner plans.
“When I finally met him, we hugged, and he cried,” Tim said. “He was just so relieved. We’re definitely friends now.”
Ranson, who works in the distillery industry and has no formal medical training, said the experience was life-changing.
“It was all a blur. But I knew I had to do something. You never know when you’ll be the one in that moment,” he said. “I believe I was put in the right place at the right time.”
Donna called Ranson’s actions heroic.
“He didn’t hesitate. He ran to us and saved Tim’s life. We’ll never forget that,” she said.
Despite the trauma and uncertainty, the Mulligans are headed home soon, with renewed gratitude for life — and a new friend who was in the right place at the right time.
