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Local surfer survives heart attack to ride the waves in Pacific Beach

Posted at 11:17 AM, Sep 19, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-19 14:17:40-04

San Diego (KGTV) -

Ron Greene loves the ocean as he's been surfing for 55 years. When it comes to riding the waves, he has one word that best describes the experience, and that is "special"

"Being in the water with your friends, the exercise, and the ability at my age to relatively perform."

He's competed in OMBAC's (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club) OMSURF event for a number of years, and enjoys it because of the chance to ride the older long boards.

But it was five years ago competing in the OMSURF event that Ron call life changing. He suffered a heart attack while on his board.

"No pulse, no heart beat, I was purple. It caught me by surprise"

But once a surfer always a surfer. Ron says his life was saved thanks to a defibrillator, and was back surfing two months later.

"I try to push and do because I don't know when my last say is going to be."