Comedian Drew Lynch halts Spokane show after audience member suffers heart attack
Audience members performed CPR and helped revive an 83-year-old man; Lynch later visited him in the hospital and praised the community.
Spokane, Wash. — Comedian Drew Lynch halted his set at the Spokane Comedy Club when an 83-year-old man began suffering a heart attack mid-performance, prompting a rapid show of concern and cooperation from the crowd.
Witnesses say the audience began responding as Lynch called out for help, with someone confirming that CPR had started and others directing space for medical responders. The man, identified by Lynch as Mr. Wende, reportedly had no pulse for more than five minutes before emergency services arrived and work began to revive him. Lynch described the moment as one of the most powerful demonstrations of community and human connection he had ever seen, later sharing a clip from the incident and expressing gratitude for the crowd’s rapid response.
As paramedics took control, several audience members reportedly took turns performing CPR and creating space for responders to work. The tension in the room eased as the man began to show signs of revival, and the crowd erupted in applause when he was lifted onto a stretcher. Lynch, visibly moved, addressed the audience, saying, “That was incredible dude. Like, I know we’re here making jokes and doing a bunch of s***, but you guys all really just came together in a really cool way, dude. You saved that guy’s life, man.” He added that witnessing the scene underscored the importance of community.
Lynch later visited Mr. Wende in the hospital with fellow comedians Akeem Hoyte-Charles and Rachel Aflleje, who completed the show for the man. Wende had left his walker at the club, and Lynch retrieved it and later signed it for him. The comedian thanked the people of Spokane, the medical professionals, and the Wende family for bringing him a reminder of why comedy exists and why communities matter, especially in troubling times.
In posts following the incident, Lynch described the experience as a reminder that, even in a divided world, people can come together to care for one another. He concluded by emphasizing the human commonality that binds audiences, performers, and medical responders alike, thanking everyone who helped and praising the city of Spokane for its response.