An actor died of a sudden heart attack during his birthday trip to Las Vegas after restaurant staff allegedly failed to perform CPR — and even stopped a woman from trying to save him.
Michael Heslin, 35, collapsed at Javier’s restaurant at the ARIA Hotel on the Strip in June while celebrating with husband Scotty Dynamo and friends.
Heslin, who appeared in the series Lioness, which also features Zoe Saldana, and TV movie The Holiday Proposal Plan, had been planning to start a family before he passed away.
Now, his husband has filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing the restaurant of allowing an ‘avoidable tragedy’ through multiple ‘failures’ to provide lifesaving aid.
The claim, brought on September 18, says staff did nothing as Heslin ‘exhibited obvious signs of a medical emergency’ and instead ‘forcefully interfered’ with a diner who attempted CPR.
But the employees did not take any action despite Heslin ‘exhibiting obvious signs of a medical emergency,’ according to the lawsuit.
Though the restaurant had an AED on hand, it was allegedly never retrieved, and Heslin’s friends say they were ‘forcefully removed’ from the building as the horror unfolded.
The lawsuit alleges five counts of wrongful death; loss of consortium; negligence; negligent hiring, retention, training and supervision; and gross negligence, per the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Movie star Michael Heslin died on a birthday trip to Las Vegas when he suffered a sudden heart attack as restaurant staff allegedly failed to perform CPR
Heslin passed away on July 2 last year as he celebrated his 35th birthday at Javier’s restaurant at the ARIA Hotel on the Vegas Strip (pictured)
It is alleged that after the restaurant staff prevented the other patron from helping Heslin, his friends were ‘threatened with arrest’ for trying to step in to provide lifesaving efforts.
When Heslin’s friends tried to record the incident, employees ‘demanded’ their videos be deleted, according to the lawsuit.
The filing is seeking damages in excess of $30,000, funeral expenses, and punitive damages because Heslin’s death was ‘a direct and proximate result of defendants’ acts and omissions’, it is claimed.
Heslin’s husband said in an Instagram post following the actor’s death that his passing came as a complete shock, saying that he was ‘young, in perfect health, and the doctors have no explanation for what happened.’
‘Michael was brilliant, selfless, talented, and a real-life guardian angel,’ Dynamo wrote.
‘He was the first person everyone would call to share good news with, and he was the perfect person to call if they needed a shoulder to lean on or the best advice.
‘He truly was the sweetest, most caring, and loving man on earth, and he brought out the absolute best in everyone who had the pleasure to cross paths with him.’
Heslin’s husband Scotty Dynamo (pictured together) said the couple were planning on starting a family together
The actor had appeared in the Zoe Saldana-starring series Lioness and made-for-TV movie The Holiday Proposal Plan (pictured)
The young actor was described as ‘brilliant, selfless, talented, and a real-life guardian angel’
Dynamo said that Heslin ‘single-handedly carried me through multiple rounds of cancer’ and said that meeting him ‘was the best thing to ever happen to me.’
He said that just one week before Heslin’s death, they were ‘in the early stages of starting a family and would regularly share our favorite baby names for our future kids.’
‘You always told me that you felt like you were meant to be a dad, and I couldn’t agree more. You would be the world’s most perfect father. If I ever become a dad, I am going to name my son after you and hope that I manage to raise him to become at least half the man you are.’
He added that Heslin was an organ donor, and had ‘given the gift of life to four different families’ following his passing.
The Daily Mail has contacted MGM Resorts International, which operates Aria, for comment.
