Bob Odenkirk reflects on 'Better Call Saul' 'heart incident' and urges people to learn CPR
Actor Bob Odenkirk is opening up about how serious his heart attack was last July on the New Mexico set of "Better Call Saul."
During an appearance on Sirius XM's "The Howard Stern Show" Monday, the Emmy-winning actor and writer, 59, said, "I would have been dead if someone hadn't immediately screamed and gotten someone there to give me CPR. CPR saved my life."
Odenkirk also said were it not for the good physical shape he was in from the action film "Nobody," as well as the swift action of the cast and crew of his AMC show, the outcome could have been much different.
He said co-stars Rhea Seehorn and Patrick Fabian realized something was wrong and "raced to my side ... Because I guess I turned grey right away, and stopped breathing, and they started yelling..."
The actor said the on-site medical expert, Rosa, who was there mainly to enforce COVID-19 protocols, started CPR on him right away.
After around 12 minutes, he said she had someone take over while she ran to her car to get her defibrillator, as the set didn't have one.
"It took three attempts to get me to a rhythm," he said.
After undergoing an operation to unclog an artery, Odenkirk said his recovery also was helped by the physical shape he was in.
"Take CPR classes," Odenkirk added, "because you can save lives with them."
