Burlington City Hall held a special ceremony to honor Lyndsie Cox and members of Dan Dufford’s hockey team, whose fast actions saved Dufford’s life after he suffered a heart attack during a game at Mainway Arena in Burlington, Ontario, in May.
The emergency unfolded on May 7, 2026, when Dufford collapsed on the ice. His teammates immediately removed his chest pad and jersey and started CPR. Cox, who was at the arena, asked if they needed a defibrillator. When they said yes, she grabbed the Automated External Defibrillator from the wall and rushed onto the ice with some of Dufford’s teammates.
Together, they used the AED and kept up CPR until Halton Region Paramedic Services arrived. Dufford was conscious and thanking everyone as he was taken to hospital. Weeks later, he attended the City Hall recognition alongside his teammates and Cox.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward presented Cox with a certificate for her quick thinking. The ceremony also acknowledged the teammates who jumped into action that night, and highlighted the importance of having AEDs in public places.
All City of Burlington rinks, including Mainway Arena, are equipped with ZOLL Defibrillators near the entrance to each arena, according to the Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club. The availability of these devices is part of a larger national effort. Through the National Automated External Defibrillator Initiative, Canada invested nearly $10 million to place AEDs in hockey arenas and recreational facilities across the country.
Dufford’s survival shows how crucial that investment has been. With quick thinking, teamwork, and the right equipment on hand, a life was saved on the ice at Mainway Arena.
