Bobby Impaglia
A Stroke of Luck
The Story of PGA Instructor Bobby Impaglia's Brush with Death and Subsequent Recovery from Cardiovascular Disease at Broward Health
Boca Raton resident Bobby Impaglia has been immersed in the world of golf since he was 3 years old, when he first discovered a love for the game. Over the past 68 years, Impaglia has transitioned from a golf pro on the PGA tour to a golf coach and instructor, finding immense joy in sharing his passion for golf with others.
Then, in November 2022, as Impaglia was coaching at Deer Creek Golf Course in Deerfield Beach and recording a student’s swing, he suddenly felt a surge of severe pain. Clutching his stomach, he collapsed to the ground. “I had an out-of-body experience where everything became eerily calm, and I was looking down on my lifeless body below me,” Impaglia said.
Luckily, a former Army medic was practicing his swing on the adjacent driving range and jumped into action. The medic performed CPR on Impaglia and a bystander quickly dialed 911. The Broward Sheriff’s Office arrived within eight minutes, reviving Impaglia with the help of an automated external defibrillator (AED) when he flatlined twice. Impaglia was then rushed to nearby Broward Health North, one of only three trauma centers in Broward County.
“The night before I suffered from cardiac arrest, I had felt some unusual, tingling sensations in my left arm and chest, but I dismissed it as indigestion because as a golf pro you don’t really worry about that because you have a lot of stress on your arms and a lot of fatigue. So I just felt like this was normal and it would go away,” said Impaglia. “But I also wasn’t feeling myself the next morning either and couldn’t explain what was wrong. I’m lean and athletic, so cardiac arrest wasn’t something I considered, so I urge everyone to take these signs seriously and get checked out.”
Upon arrival at Broward Health North, Impaglia was met by Interventional Cardiologist Andre Landau, M.D. It was discovered that Impaglia had significant blockages in his arteries, including a 90% blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, also known as the widow maker artery, and a 100% blockage in another artery. Dr. Landau immediately placed catheters in his arteries, opened them with a balloon and inserted a stent to reestablish blood flow.
“Fortunately, because everyone responded so quickly, Bobby had very little muscle damage and made a very good clinical recovery,” said Dr. Landau. “It really demonstrates that with emergency preparedness measures in place, both in the community and in the hospital, patients will receive excellent and critical care right away.”
Reflecting on his experience with emotion, Impaglia urges everyone to take each day as a gift. “I am extremely grateful to Broward Health North for the care I received,” said Impaglia. “Not only did they take care of me, but they also took care of my family.”
Impaglia recovered quickly and was back on the golf range within a week. His experience emphasizes the critical role of CPR training, which can make the difference between life and death in cardiac emergencies. In 2023, Impaglia participated in Broward Health’s annual golf classic at Fort Lauderdale Country Club where he shared his story of triumph and his gratitude for the exceptional care he received at Broward Health.
“Cardiovascular disease impacts millions and is the leading cause of death globally,” said Dr. Landau. “The disease encompasses many conditions, including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia and heart valve problems - the disease isn’t a one size fits all illness. The bottom line is, if you experience chest pain; shortness of breath; wheezing or chronic coughing; swelling in the legs, ankles or feet; rapid or irregular heartbeat; or reduced ability to exercise, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.”
Learn More About Cardiac Services at Broward Health
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