Breathing Management for CPR Training Man Saves a Life With CPR in Kitchener
A sudden cardiac emergency outside a coffee shop in Kitchener, Ontario, serves as a powerful reminder of why CPR training—and proper breathing management—matters.
According to a report by CBC News, Jessica Burman Zinger believed she was witnessing her husband’s final moments after he collapsed on the road outside Smile Tiger Coffee. What began as a routine winter morning quickly turned into a life-or-death emergency.
(You can read the full original news story here: 👉 Man learned CPR 2 weeks ago, saves Kitchener heart attack victim’s life
Just minutes before the collapse, Lane Burman, 40, had helped push their car out of a snowbank. After parking, the couple began crossing Victoria Street when Lane suddenly fell to the ground.
At first, Jessica thought he had tripped. Then she suspected he was having a seizure. Within seconds, she realized it was far more serious.
She later explained that she could see “the life draining out of him” and knew it was his heart. Panicked, she called out to the people around her: “Does anyone know CPR?”
Immediate Action From a Trained Bystander
Someone nearby answered that call.
Bystanders quickly moved Lane out of the roadway while a young man stepped forward and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Jessica was handed a phone and called 911, doing her best to answer questions while watching her husband’s condition worsen.
Lane, who had a known heart arrhythmia and took medication for it, appeared lifeless. His skin began turning blue.
“It wasn’t looking good,” Jessica recalled. “Basically, he looked dead.”
How CPR and Breathing Management Saved His Life
As CPR continued, something remarkable happened.
The rescuer’s chest compressions restored circulation and oxygen flow. Lane suddenly began breathing again and briefly regained consciousness. Jessica watched from the crowd as her husband locked eyes with her—before losing consciousness once more.
Those moments of CPR were critical. By maintaining blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain and heart, the rescuer prevented severe brain damage and Kept Lane alive until paramedics arrived.
This is exactly why breathing management and high-quality CPR are core components of proper CPR training.
A Timely Rescue and an Incredible Outcome
Lane was rushed to the hospital and survived. Doctors later confirmed that without immediate CPR, the outcome would likely have been very different.
After Lane was stabilized, Jessica was able to speak with the man who had performed CPR. His name was Dylan Duncan—and he had completed his CPR certification just two weeks earlier.
She hugged him and said:
“You saved a father and a husband’s life today.”
One CPR Course. One Decision. One Life Saved.
Jessica later learned that Dylan was on his way to work when the emergency happened. He had recently completed First Aid and CPR training as part of his education.
Medical staff later told him that if he had not acted immediately, Lane would not have survived.
This real-life event shows how even recent CPR training can prepare someone to respond effectively under pressure.
Why CPR Training Matters
High-quality CPR:
Maintains blood flow to the brain and heart
Supports breathing and oxygen delivery
Reduces the risk of permanent brain damage
Keeps a person alive until emergency responders arrive
If you want to be prepared for situations like this, enrolling in professional CPR and AED training courses—such as those offered through can give you the skills and confidence to step in during a cardiac emergency.
Be Ready to Help When It Matters Most
Emergencies can happen anywhere—on the street, at work, or in public places. With proper CPR training, you could be the difference between life and death for someone in need.
As Jessica Burman Zinger said, CPR didn’t just save her husband’s life—it saved his heart, his brain, and his future.
About The Author
Mark Kascha
Certified First Aid Instructor Trainer with 30+ years of real-world experience, including lifeguarding, workplace emergency response, and first aid program development across Canada. Has worked with WorkSafeBC, WSIB, and Manitoba Health.
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Last reviewed: March 2026
Serving Winnipeg and south Manitoba with the cheapest priced, highest quality first aid training, CPR and food safety courses since 2012 with a commitment to providing the best classes to Canadians.
