DALTON, Ga. — A Dalton doctor and firefighter are among a group of cyclists credited with saving a man’s life after they happened to see him collapse during a hike on Saturday.

David Jones of Alpharetta was at Fort Mountain State Park on a section of the eight-mile Gahuti Trail when he hit the ground near a road crossing. Dr. Brad DeLay of Dalton Family Practice, registered nurse James DeLong of Apison, Tenn., and Dalton firefighter Doug Kerns were passing by on a mountain bike ride with two other cyclists when Jones went into cardiac arrest.

The group was about to turn around to head back down the mountain when one of them spotted Jones. DeLong rushed over, followed by the others.

“He started turning blue quick,” DeLong said.

He and DeLay began CPR while Kerns called 911 and told the operator they believed the man in his 50s was suffering a heart attack. Kerns then rushed off on his bike to locate a park office and bring back a defibrillator.

Fortunately, he passed a ranger on his way, saving several minutes of precious time. A 911 operator had already notified the ranger of the problem, and the rescue crew was able to administer a shock to revive Jones.

“It’s extremely rare to go into cardiac arrest like that outside of a hospital and have a good outcome,” said DeLong, who has previous experience working in cardiac care. “He’s a lucky dude.”

More than half an hour passed before an ambulance arrived. Jones’ wife, Paula, said her husband was taken to Hamilton Medical Center where doctors put in four stents and addressed three blockages in his arteries. David was resting at home late Tuesday and is expected to fully recover — and, Paula said, begin some lifestyle changes to improve his cardiac health.

That long hike on Saturday, she said, was the first such hike in a while. He was with two friends who enjoy exploring area trails.

Still, Paula said that while David needs to improve his cardiovascular fitness, he’s always been a fix-it man around the house and was out chopping wood the day before the hike. It was a wake-up call for both of them to take better care of their health, she said.

DeLay didn’t immediately return a phone call Tuesday, but Paula said she’s grateful for his help and for all the care her husband received in Dalton.

“We just feel like life is a little slower in that area than it is in our crazy busy area and people take the time to show kindness up there,” she said from her home in metro Atlanta. “It’s really a great experience all in all.”

Kerns said the good outcome was all about very fortunate timing. Had a few more seconds passed, the cycling group wouldn’t have seen David. Had the hiking group timed their arrival on the road differently, the story would have been different. Much of the Gahuti Trail is secluded.

“It wasn’t his time to go that day,” Kerns said. “He has a story to tell now, and hopefully it will inspire other people. What are your chances that you have a doctor and a registered nurse and a firefighter and two people that knew CPR show up on an off-duty call all at the same time?”