At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Eden Prairie resident Sundari Saengdara was recognized for saving her boyfriend’s life on Sept. 27, 2025 when they were playing pickleball at Miller Park.

That evening Sundari’s boyfriend, Rory Bakke, collapsed while on the court. Sundari shouted for help while other players called 911 and grabbed an AED that had been installed at the park just two weeks prior. Sundari had seen a Facebook post about the AED installation and knew to ask other players to retrieve it.

An EPPD officer arrived and helped Sundari check for a pulse. When they couldn’t find one, Sundari started CPR, attached the AED to Rory and it delivered a shock. EPFD firefighters and Hennepin EMS paramedics arrived and continued CPR for another 10-15 minutes, administering two additional shocks and providing additional lifesaving measures.

Rory began to come back and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. A few days later Rory was walking and talking in the hospital and a week after the incident, he was discharged. He was diagnosed with ARVC, a rare genetic heart condition. In late October Rory received a defibrillator.

It took a lot of factors for a successful outcome in this case including the placement of the AED at Miller Park and the help of bystanders but primary among them was Sundari’s ability to stay calm, give directions to others and apply her medical training and experience. Her quick thinking and actions saved Rory’s life.

At the council meeting Sundari and Rory were also reunited with Officer Serena Haglin and Firefighter Collin O'Brien who were the first emergency personnel on the scene.

Pictured to the right: Officer Serena Haglin, Sundari Saengdara, Rory Bakke, Firefighter Collin O'Brien