--- title: "Off-Duty Nurse Performs Lifesaving CPR on San Francisco Sidewalk | Sutter Health" description: "In April 2023, Rachel Heller performed CPR on a man who collapsed on a sidewalk, saving his life." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/off-duty-nurse-performs-lifesaving-cpr-on-san-francisco-sidewalk-2023563875" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Patient Stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) / 3. Off-Duty Nurse Performs Lifesaving CPR on San Francisco Sidewalk # Off-Duty Nurse Performs Lifesaving CPR on San Francisco Sidewalk * * * 2024 In April 2023, Rachel was on her lunch break near Sutter’s [Van Ness Medical Office Building](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-location/facility/van-ness-campus-medical-office-building) in San Francisco when a man collapsed outside of Mel’s Kitchen and lost his pulse. Rachel and her mother Sara Heller, who is also a registered nurse, saw several bystanders surround the man and rushed to see if they could help assist a woman who had started CPR. Trained as a critical care nurse, Rachel quickly assessed the situation and offered to take over chest compressions. “For several minutes I watched Rachel perform excellent CPR,” said Sara. “The gentleman became conscious briefly and then lost consciousness. 9-1-1 had been called and we could hear the sirens coming.” Rachel continued to perform CPR for four to five minutes before the San Francisco Fire Department arrived and transported the man in an ambulance. “My instincts and training really took over in that moment and I felt like I did everything that I could to save this man’s life,” recalls Rachel. “When he was loaded into the ambulance and taken away, we had no idea of whether he was going to survive.” ## ****A Surprising Encounter and Good News**** Several weeks later, Rachel went into Mel’s Kitchen where the incident occurred to grab a soft drink and the hostess immediately recognized Rachel as the young woman who performed CPR on the sidewalk. The two women embraced each other and the hostess had great news: SFFD returned to Mel’s Kitchen and told the staff that the gentleman who collapsed had survived! ![A woman in a plaid blazer and jeans holds up a Red Cross medal and award certificate](http://a.mktgcdn.com/p/6GO_jgSLGOmVHWkIZWChZLM2Zffj3eMGyRCA_7nKrdk/508x677.jpg) Rachel Heller, BSN, RN, CCRN, a Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation nurse specialist on Sutter’s Structural Heart Team receives the Red Cross Certificate of Merit Lifesaving Award for performing CPR on a collapsed man on a public sidewalk in San Francisco. “I was completely overcome with emotions upon hearing that this man survived,” recalls Rachel. “I was trying to process this traumatic situation and it was difficult not knowing whether this man I performed CPR on was alive or not. Receiving this great news brought some wonderful closure for me and my family.” Rachel credits her professional training as a nurse for being able to stay calm under immense pressure. “Performing CPR in that situation was quite different than running a ‘code blue’ in the hospital,” she says. “There weren’t any monitors or a lot of helping hands on that sidewalk. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.” Rachel who has been a heart transplant nurse at Sutter for more than four years says that nursing is her true calling in life and she’s devoted to working with heart patients undergoing transplants and other procedures. “I’m proud to be a nurse and have the ability to help support our community,” Rachel says. “I live and work in San Francisco and I’m grateful that my efforts helped save a life.” For her heroic efforts, Rachel received the Certificate of Merit Lifesaving Award at an American Red Cross special event at the Presidio Golf Club on June 26, 2024. Rachel also received an honorary proclamation and was joined by her family and friends. ## Discover similar stories Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one. [Emergency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Emergency%22%5D%7D%5D) ## When Care Can’t Wait Our 20+ emergency departments include trauma centers, pediatric units and award-winning sepsis care. Always call 911 for life-threatening emergencies. [Find an ER](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-location-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_locationType%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Emergency+Room%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_facilities) ## Related articles [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) - Patient story ### [Good Samaritans Save Bicyclist’s Life With CPR](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/good-samaritans-save-bicyclists-life-with-cpr-2023563940) Time is critical when the heart stops and sometimes a good Samaritan or two makes all the difference. - Patient story ### [Riveting Video: How Teen Was Saved When Her Heart Failed](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/riveting-video-how-teen-was-saved-when-her-heart-failed-2023563865) Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento care teams quickly partnered to save the life of Catherine Cai, a teen from China. - Patient story ### [Small Wound Nearly Costs Teen His Life; Quick Diagnosis Saves It](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/small-wound-nearly-costs-teen-his-life-quick-diagnosis-saves-it-2023563932) In August 2022, an alarming spread of a bacterial infection stopped Ben Moseley in his tracks. [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) ## Disclaimer _Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice._ ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/off-duty-nurse-performs-lifesaving-cpr-on-san-francisco-sidewalk-2023563875#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient Stories","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Off-Duty Nurse Performs Lifesaving CPR on San Francisco Sidewalk"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/off-duty-nurse-performs-lifesaving-cpr-on-san-francisco-sidewalk-2023563875#article","name":"Off-Duty Nurse Performs Lifesaving CPR on San Francisco Sidewalk","headline":"Off-Duty Nurse Performs Lifesaving CPR on San Francisco Sidewalk","abstract":"In April 2023, Rachel Heller performed CPR on a man who collapsed on a sidewalk, saving his life.","description":"In April 2023, Rachel Heller performed CPR on a man who collapsed on a sidewalk, saving his life.","keywords":["Emergency"],"datePublished":"2024-07-02","dateModified":"2026-01-22","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/off-duty-nurse-performs-lifesaving-cpr-on-san-francisco-sidewalk-2023563875","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/off-duty-nurse-performs-lifesaving-cpr-on-san-francisco-sidewalk-2023563875","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/off-duty-nurse-performs-lifesaving-cpr-on-san-francisco-sidewalk-2023563875#breadcrumblist"}},"author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/UpkPTVWPZebjKBsOqeai-RFtif3Xftnx60fcSNMvEOA/fit=crop,gravity=auto,width=1200,height=630"},"articleBody":"In April 2023, Rachel was on her lunch break near Sutter’s Van Ness Medical Office Building in San Francisco when a man collapsed outside of Mel’s Kitchen and lost his pulse. Rachel and her mother Sara Heller, who is also a registered nurse, saw several bystanders surround the man and rushed to see if they could help assist a woman who had started CPR. Trained as a critical care nurse, Rachel quickly assessed the situation and offered to take over chest compressions. “For several minutes I watched Rachel perform excellent CPR,” said Sara. “The gentleman became conscious briefly and then lost consciousness. 9-1-1 had been called and we could hear the sirens coming.” Rachel continued to perform CPR for four to five minutes before the San Francisco Fire Department arrived and transported the man in an ambulance. “My instincts and training really took over in that moment and I felt like I did everything that I could to save this man’s life,” recalls Rachel. “When he was loaded into the ambulance and taken away, we had no idea of whether he was going to survive.” A Surprising Encounter and Good News Several weeks later, Rachel went into Mel’s Kitchen where the incident occurred to grab a soft drink and the hostess immediately recognized Rachel as the young woman who performed CPR on the sidewalk. The two women embraced each other and the hostess had great news: SFFD returned to Mel’s Kitchen and told the staff that the gentleman who collapsed had survived! Rachel Heller, BSN, RN, CCRN, a Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation nurse specialist on Sutter’s Structural Heart Team receives the Red Cross Certificate of Merit Lifesaving Award for performing CPR on a collapsed man on a public sidewalk in San Francisco. “I was completely overcome with emotions upon hearing that this man survived,” recalls Rachel. “I was trying to process this traumatic situation and it was difficult not knowing whether this man I performed CPR on was alive or not. Receiving this great news brought some wonderful closure for me and my family.” Rachel credits her professional training as a nurse for being able to stay calm under immense pressure. “Performing CPR in that situation was quite different than running a ‘code blue’ in the hospital,” she says. “There weren’t any monitors or a lot of helping hands on that sidewalk. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.” Rachel who has been a heart transplant nurse at Sutter for more than four years says that nursing is her true calling in life and she’s devoted to working with heart patients undergoing transplants and other procedures. “I’m proud to be a nurse and have the ability to help support our community,” Rachel says. “I live and work in San Francisco and I’m grateful that my efforts helped save a life.” For her heroic efforts, Rachel received the Certificate of Merit Lifesaving Award at an American Red Cross special event at the Presidio Golf Club on June 26, 2024. Rachel also received an honorary proclamation and was joined by her family and friends."} ```