Vern Kelch, longtime golfer and former president of the Men’s Golf Club, is on the road to recovery after stuffing a heart attack on the Canyon Lake Golf Course on Monday.
The incident occurred after Kelch teed off on hole 3 and sat in his golf cart. Fellow golfers and an employee from the Golf Pro Shop sprang into action in an effort to save his life.
Several golfers immediately began CPR. An employee from the Gof Pro Shop quickly retrieved the course’s automated external defibrillator (AED) and used it in an attempt to restore his heartbeat before emergency responders arrived. Their swift efforts played a critical role in stabilizing him.
Kelch, 78, was transported to the hospital, where doctors placed a stent to open blocked arteries. According to his partner, Emma Magill, Kelch also suffered six broken ribs, likely a result of the CPR administered on the course. Despite these injuries, he is expected to recover.
Currently in the hospital, Kelch “appears lucid and mobile,” according to friend Bobby Gunter, who visited him in the hospital today. “The nurse said a second stent will be implanted today. His son and daughter-in-law are with him,” Gunter said.
Kelch experienced numbness in his leg and arm the day before his heart attack but was not willing to go to the hospital at that time, according to Magill. His experience serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing early warning signs of cardiac distress.
The quick response of his fellow golfers and the availability of an AED on-site were crucial in saving Kelch’s life. As he continues his recovery, the Canyon Lake golfing community remains hopeful for his return to the course in the future. “Vern is one of the most well-liked and respected golfers in our community,” Gunter said.
