STARK COUNTY

'Spinners' honored for saving man's life at Jackson YMCA

Charita M. Goshay
The Repository
Joanna Bruno gets a hug from Lawrence Township resident Joey Mohr as Hailey Hon looks on after spin class members were recognized for saving Mohr's life during a cardiac event at the Paul and Carol David Jackson Township YMCA.
  • The Jackson Township Fire Department handed out five Community Hero Awards on Saturday.
  • Cheryl Stalder, Madison Nadeau, Jessica Boyle, Hailey Hon and Joanna Bruno helped save Joey Mohr's life.
  • Mohr had cardiac arrest while participating in a spin class at the YMCA in February.

JACKSON TWP. − There is luck, and there is the kind of serendipity that saved Joey Mohr's life.

On Feb. 25, when the Canal Fulton resident went into cardiac arrest during a spin class at the Paul and Carol David YMCA , several of his classmates sprang into action and helped to save his life by using an AED, or automatic external defibrillator.

"Words can't describe how grateful I am," said Mohr, who underwent a quadruple bypass on Feb. 28.

Spin classes are low-impact, high-intensity fitness routines which use stationary bicycles.

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On Saturday, Cheryl Stalder, Madison Nadeau, Jessica Boyle, Hailey Hon and Joanna Bruno were given Community Hero Awards by the Jackson Township Fire Department.

"We've come a long way in our CPR," said Chief Timothy G. Berczik. "The biggest thing we've learned over the years is, we need electricity. Before our paramedics got here, he was awake."

Joey Mohr, center, takes photos with some of the Jackson Township first responders who saved his life.

Mohr, 47, of Lawrence Township said he had no previous medical or physical issues, adding that he's been taking the spin class four times a week, for 12 years.

"We were 20 minutes into the class when I felt a tightness in my chest," he recalled. "I tried to sit up on my bike. I don't remember passing out. They saved my life."

Mohr's class instructor and friend Jessica Boyle recalled the moment.

"He just went down so hard, out of nowhere," she said. "One minute he was up, the next he was down. I was worried about head trauma. We just thought he passed out, then realized he wasn't breathing. Cheryl got the AED and Joanne administered CPR, and by the time the ambulance got here, he was awake. It was really scary for a little bit."

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S. , claiming 928,741 lives in 2020, according the American Heart Association. Worldwide, it killed 19.1 million people that year.

Smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure are cited as the three most common causes leading to cardiovascular disease.

Mohr, who is still in rehab, said he's hoping to return to the class as soon as he is permitted.

"Everything's going good," he said. "A week after surgery, they had me up walking."

Cheryl Stalder, from left, Madison Nadeau, Jessica Boyle, Hailey Hon and Joanna Bruno pose with Joey Mohr on Saturday. Their quick actions in February saved his life during a cardiac episode at a Paul and Carol David YMCA spin class.

Jennifer Anderson, a vice president of operations for the YMCA, said she's grateful Mohr's story had a happy ending thanks to the quick reactions of the staff and having AEDs on-site.

"We're proud to serve the the community in all different ways," she said. "It's one of the principles of who we are as an organization. We're proud to be a peart of this day and his life."

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com .

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

An automated external defibrillator is mounted outside the exercise room at the Paul and Carol David YMCA in Jackson Township. The AED was used in February to save Joey Mohr's life.