Folks searching for couple who saved truck driver's life

Hungry Horse News

Francine Stone, where are you?

You helped save someone's life, and there are a lot of people who want to thank you.

Stone and her husband gave CPR to a man who had a cardiac arrest at Town Pump earlier this month. But no one seems to know where she lives or where she went after she helped out.

Darwin Tridle, 61, was delivering fuel to Town Pump in Columbia Falls on Jan. 4 when his heart stopped beating.

About 450,000 people a year have a cardiac arrest in the U.S. Ninety-three percent of them die. Tridle was part of the fortunate seven percent. Stone and her husband played a big role in that, paramedics and doctors say.

"He was a very lucky guy," said Dr. Rod Vaught, who treated him at North Valley Medical Center.

Tridle, who lives in Alberton, near Missoula, needed some cars moved that morning so he could access a gas tank. He walked into the casino to find out whose cars were in the way. Then he collapsed.

Town Pump employees Cleve Anderson and Sherry Moore began massaging his heart and holding his hand. Manager Connie Zerbst said Tridle soon lost consciousness, stopped breathing and began turning gray.

Stone and her husband, who were in the store, then began giving him CPR. They continued for 10 minutes until paramedics arrived, Zerbst said.

Dan Anderson, Cheri Watson and Doni Landwehr from Three Rivers EMS got Tridle's heart beating by shocking him with a heart defibrillator. The paramedics then brought him to North Valley Hospital where Vaught took over.

Vaught said the first responders did a fantastic job.

"I was just really impressed with how well they did," he said. "They did all the appropriate paramedic-level care."

Tridle then went to Kalispell Regional Medical Center and had triple-bypass surgery. Doctors also implanted a pacemaker near his heart so it keeps a regular rhythm.

Tridle is now recovering at his home. He said he has lost 25 pounds since the cardiac arrest, when he was 272 pounds.

He said he is eating healthier and exercising. He is also very glad to be alive.

"I'm very thankful for every effort that was made because I wouldn't be here today unless they had done it," he said.

Tridle said when he gets his strength back he will return to Columbia Falls to thank his rescuers in person.