Construction worker’s right hand suddenly went limp and he couldn’t utter a word — then his boss made a split-second move without waiting for 911
Timely medical intervention has saved many lives. When 66-year-old Dawson construction worker Bill Keiser was working on a repair underneath, he unexpectedly experienced an odd sensation. The elderly worker's right hand began twitching, and he found himself unable to utter a word. When his boss began contacting 911, they were informed that there would be a slight delay. However, his boss did something that helped Keiser come out of a life-threatening situation, per WALB 10 News on January 23, 2026.
66-old Bill Keiser has worked in different trades, including carpentry, plumbing, roofing, and electrical work for several decades. On one fine day, while he was working on repairing a floor underneath a home in Dawson, Keiser unexpectedly began experiencing his body struggling to keep balance. He shared that his right hand stopped working, and he began mumbling, unable to speak. "Everything was being mumbled. I could think the words, but I couldn't speak them out," he recalled. Keiser was aware of his family having a history of strokes and shared that many of his family members passed away from the condition previously. As Keiser struggled to hold himself together, his boss immediately tried contacting 911.
Unfortunately, they were informed by the emergency services that the crew was delayed. However, with time passing by, his boss did not think twice to do the incredible thing that has now saved Keiser's life. He revealed that his boss asked him to get inside his truck and decided to drive him to the nearby Convenient Care Clinic himself. Thanks to the timely intervention and the boss's quick thinking, he was able to be transferred to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, where he was found to have suffered a stroke with multiple blood clots in his brain. Keiser, who has now recovered from the condition, plans to return to work. The only worry bothering the elderly worker is the expensive bill and medical costs. "I got the medicine I need, and it's 500 and some dollars." As for his boss, Keiser expressed his gratitude towards him for his quick thinking. "I'm extremely grateful that he's a nice guy, and that he cares about me."
A 2023 study authored by Ehsan Taheri et al. examined how crucial it is to make wise and quick decisions during life-threatening situations. The study used behavioral experiments based on a hypothetical disaster to analyze how participants chose between rescue options under different time pressures. The findings revealed that many individuals who are normally risk-averse shift toward risk-taking behavior. That is, during high time pressure, participants rely more on simple heuristics rather than detailed analysis.
The researchers noted that the intensity of an issue often changes the way people view decisions and risks. When the boss realized that 911 was delaying in sending paramedics, he decided to take matters into his own hands and drive Keiser to the hospital all by himself. Luckily, this quick thinking saved the elderly worker's life.