An Oregon man suddenly died while on his regular run at the gym just one day before his retirement - and now his heartbroken widow is suing the fitness club in a stunning $13million lawsuit.
Electrical engineer David L. Rutledge, 62, was exercising at a 24 Hour Fitness gym in Portland around 5am on December 21, 2017, the same time he went ran there every day.
Rutledge's widow Stacy L. Rutledge claims in the lawsuit filed Wednesday that the gym failed to train the only employee on duty that morning on how to respond to an emergency situation and save her husband's life.
The widow of Oregon man David L. Rutledge, 62, who died after collapsing on the treadmill at a 24 Hour Fitness gym on December 21, 2017 is suing the fitness club for $13million
Rutledge was working out at a 24 Hour Fitness in Portland (above) at 5am when he collapsed on the treadmill. The sole gym employee there didn't immediately call 911 and didn't know where the automated external defibrillator was, the lawsuit says
During Rutledge's workout he suddenly collapsed on the treadmill and a person working out nearby retrieved the sole gym employee Corey Lay, who was in the restroom.
However, Lay did not immediately call 911 and didn't know where to find the gym's automated external defibrillator, which saves cardiac arrest victims, the lawsuit says as per the Oregonian.
Paramedics who rushed to the scene were unable to save Rutledge.
'Every minute of delay caused Mr. Rutledge a further loss of chance of survival,' the lawsuit says.
He died just a day before he was planned to retire from Lattice Semiconductor, where he worked for the past 34 years.
Paramedics couldn't revive Rutledge when they arrived to the gym in the Pearl District of Portland (above). The lawsuit alleges that every minute the employee delayed calling police or locating the defibrillator cost the man his life
The first page of the complaint filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court above
According to Oregon law, gyms with more than 50 visitors or guests a day are required to have defibrillators on hand.
Rutledge's obituary says that his death came as a surprise to his family.
'Despite the immediate and compassionate actions of people at the gym, EMTs and many doctors and nurses, David’s heart had beat for the last time,' it said.
'The doctors declared how unusual it was that they could not get David’s heart restarted. Usually they said, they don’t lose a man of David’s age with seemingly excellent health,' the obituary added.
He is survived by his wife and step daughters.
24 Hour Fitness, a chain in Portland, released a statement to the Oregonian saying: 'We were saddened by the passing of our club member and our thoughts are with the member’s family. As a matter of policy, 24 Hour Fitness does not comment on pending litigation.'
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