TALLAHASSEE — When a man suffered a cardiac event outside the Old Florida Capitol Tuesday, no other than the head of Florida’s Department of Health was there to help save his life.

Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said in an interview with the conservative blog The Floridispann that he saw police officers carrying a medical bag and hurriedly walking toward a man slouched in a chair during Children’s Week festivities.

That man — 57-year-old Willie James Davis Jr., according to City & State Florida — said he had chest pain and lost consciousness. The surgeon general says he and two other doctors who also happened to be in area placed the man on the ground and couldn’t feel a pulse.

Ladapo says they shocked him with a defibrillator, and he administered CPR. Davis regained consciousness, and first responders took him to the hospital.

“Chances are, if no one had been around to help him, he would sadly not be on the planet today, and fortunately we were there,” Ladapo told The Floridian. “Hopefully we’ll be getting a meal or grabbing a coffee when he gets out of the hospital.”

According to Spectrum News reporter Jspanson Delgspando, Davis had the following words to share: “A perfect stranger made a decision to give aid & saved my life. I believe he already has his wings… Again, I thank God for the blessing of continued life and the angel he sent me.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis nspanmed Lspandspanpo surgeon general in October 2021, and the Senate confirmed the pick in February 2022. He’s been controversial since the beginning, going against medical consensus to speak out against COVID-19 measures, creating doubt about COVID-19 vaccines and condemning trans health care for minors.

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