How CPR Saved a Life Outside a Kitchener Coffee Shop

Knowing CPR doesn’t just teach a skill—it gives you the ability to save a life.

On a cold December morning in Kitchener, Dylan Duncan was simply waiting for a bus when he heard a frantic voice call out:
“Does anyone know CPR?”

That voice belonged to Jessica Burman Zinger. Her husband, Lane Burman, had collapsed suddenly after suffering a heart attack near Victoria Street, close to a local coffee shop.

Duncan didn’t know the couple. He didn’t know what had happened. What he did know was that he had learned CPR just two weeks earlier—and that when someone needs help, you step in.

Acting Without Hesitation

“I had to help him,” Duncan later told CBC. He ran over immediately, called 911, handed his phone to Jessica, and began CPR.

In those intense moments, Duncan felt shocked, scared, and physically exhausted all at once. Still, he continued chest compressions and breathing support, focused on one thought: please stay alive.

“There wasn’t a lot going through my mind,” he said. “It was mostly impulses.”

This is exactly why proper breathing management and circulation techniques are emphasized in quality CPR training. Continuous blood and oxygen flow to the brain can keep A person alive until advanced care arrives—something Duncan’s training prepared him to do.

If you want to be ready to act in a similar emergency, enrolling in a CPR and AED training course like those offered by Winnipeg First Aid can make all the difference.

“I Could See the Life Draining Out of Him”

Earlier that morning, Burman had just finished pushing his car out of the snow and was crossing the street to attend a meeting. He remembers one final moment before losing consciousness.

“I just remember an ‘uh oh’ moment,” Burman said.

Jessica initially thought her husband had tripped or was having a seizure. Then she realized it was far more serious.

“I could see the life draining out of him,” she said. “I knew it was his heart.”

Duncan continued CPR until paramedics arrived. What felt like half an hour was actually about 12 minutes—but those minutes were critical.

CPR Saved “Everything”

After emergency responders took over, Duncan went with police to the hospital to make sure Burman would be okay. Before leaving, he quietly gave Jessica his name.

In the days that followed, she tried to track him down.

“This man doing the CPR—it saved Lane’s heart, it saved his brain, it saved everything,” she said.
“My life would be totally different right now if it wasn’t for him.”

Eventually, the two men met in person and embraced.

“It’s really hard to articulate when someone saves your life how grateful you are for it,” Burman said.

The two have since stayed in touch and formed a friendship.

For readers interested in the full story and original reporting, you can read the CBC News article here:
👉 How Dylan Duncan saved Lane Burman’s life outside a Kitchener coffeeshop

A Powerful Reminder

Duncan later received a St. John Ambulance Life Saving Award, but he remains humble.

“All I was taught growing up was: if you see someone in trouble, go help them,” he said.

This story is a powerful reminder that CPR training works. Proper breathing management, chest compressions, and the confidence to act can preserve life until professional help arrives.

You never know when you’ll be the one who hears that call for help.

Learn More

Prepare yourself to act when it matters most by enrolling in a first aid and CPR course. You can also explore these trusted resources:

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.

👉 [View full credentials]🔗 View LinkedIn Profile

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.