He thought he was in good health — until fainting during a bike ride

HealthWatch A retired grandpa thought he was in good health — until he fainted during a bike ride .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-healthwatch.jpg'); } By Kerry Breen Kerry Breen News Editor Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use. Read Full Bio Kerry Breen April 4, 2026 / 8:00 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google When John Cantrell retired, he decided his new job would be staying healthy. He was already in good shape and ate well but he wanted to make sure he could see his grandkids grow up. Already an avid cyclist, he upped his time on the bike and took up pickleball. Cantrell made sure to go to all his doctor's appointments. When a cardiologist told him he had a heart condition called aortic stenosis in August 2024, he planned to get it treated soon. But he wasn't worried: He had no family history of heart disease and hadn't noticed any symptoms, so he thought the condition was in its early stages. The next day, Cantrell felt a strange sensation in his chest while cycling with friends. "I felt kind of weird, like my heart was fluttering," Cantrell, now 66, told CBS News. "It was just a really unusual feeling. I told the group 'Hey, I'm going to turn around and go back home.' And next thing I knew, I woke up in the emergency room." John Cantrell, far right, with his family.  John Cantrell Cantrell had broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured collarbone. Doctors also confirmed Cantrell's diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis, and said his heart's inability to pump blood correctly led to his passing out. It was the first time he understood just how serious the condition could be. "It's one of those moments in my life that I wish I could do it over again," said Cantrell. "I think,...