As her vehicle drifted across traffic in Florida, 77-year-old Joyce Long was experiencing a medical emergency that would have turned fatal—until a passerby stepped in.

According to the Christian Post, Joyce Long went into cardiac arrest while driving to a doctor’s appointment last week, but the intervention of a concerned driver, Retonia Watts, helped save her life.

The incident occurred as Long was driving along Normandy Boulevard in Florida. She was headed to a medical appointment when she began to feel chest discomfort behind the wheel. As the pain progressed, her car coasted into traffic, drawing honks from nearby drivers unaware of her medical condition.

While many motorists seemed irritated, Watts, a driver traveling nearby, sensed something was wrong. She noticed Long’s vehicle had come to a stop in the roadway and decided to pull over to investigate. Walking up to Long’s car, she called out to her and asked if she was alright.

Long responded that she was not okay before losing consciousness. Recognizing the urgency, Watts quickly dialed 911, then stayed by Long’s side as they waited for emergency personnel. As she waited, she placed a hand on Long and began to pray for her, offering words of comfort.

Florida Woman Unconscious in Traffic

Emergency responders arrived moments later and began lifesaving efforts. Paramedics performed CPR on Long three separate times and had to shock her heart twice to resuscitate her. Her survival was later described by doctors as extraordinary, given the severity of the cardiac episode.

Watts said that she'd been reminded of her own recent personal tragedy as she approached the scene. Her brother-in-law had recently died in a vehicle due to a medical emergency. That memory pushed her to take action when she saw someone else in need. “I thought about, ‘What if someone had been there to help save his life?’” she said.

Jennifer Long, Joyce’s daughter, said she firmly believes her mother wouldn’t have survived without Watts. “Mrs. Watts was passing, blew the horn, and something just told her to stop,” Jennifer said. Just months earlier, Jennifer had endured the death of her son, making her mother’s recovery all the more meaningful for the grieving family.

Family Grief Adds Weight to Rescue

Long is now in recovery and has expressed her deep gratitude to the woman who helped her. She recorded a heartfelt message thanking Watts for being present during her time of crisis. Speaking slowly, Long reflected on the moment: “I don’t know what happened to me. I became incapacitated, but you were a great help to me.”

She went on to say, “You asked me a couple of times if I was OK, and I told you no. You helped me out and contacted my family. I just want to say thank you. You were a blessing to me.”

Watts responded humbly to the message. “You’re welcome,” she said. “I just thank God. Nobody owes me anything.” She added that she believed it was her destiny to be there at that exact moment.

Rescuer Attributes Timing to Higher Power

Watts told local media that she had blown her horn when she noticed Long’s car slowing oddly, and had an instinct that something was wrong. That instinct ultimately led her to play a crucial role in saving another person’s life. “It was destined for me to be there at that particular time,” she said.

Watts’ actions not only saved Long’s life but also brought a sense of closure and healing to both families. For Jennifer Long, the possibility of losing both a child and a parent in such a short time would have been devastating. “Losing two family members in six months would have been too much to bear,” she said.

As Long continues to recover, both she and her family have called Watts a hero. However, Watts insists that she was simply following a calling. Her decisive actions and compassion served as a lifeline during one woman’s critical moment and brought renewed faith to a family in grief.