Head of TV Station Suffers Heart Attack

The head of a local television station was in serious but stable condition in a Ventura hospital Monday after surviving a severe heart attack and seven hours of surgery over the weekend.

John Huddy, 52, chairman of the family firm that owns KADY-TV in Oxnard, is expected to remain in intensive care for several days following double-bypass surgery on Saturday, said officials at Community Memorial Hospital.

“He had a very serious heart attack,” said Carol Dimse, the hospital’s assistant executive director. “But now he’s off the ventilator, his vital signs are stable and he’s responding and doing much better.”

Huddy suffered the attack at home Saturday morning and was stabilized by the insertion of a balloon pump into his heart. He underwent open-heart surgery Saturday afternoon, Dimse said.

After he leaves the hospital, Huddy will need several weeks to recover from the surgery, she said.

“We’re not sure how long he’ll be out, but we’re looking forward to having him back,” said family spokesman and former KADY anchorman Dan Green, who said he returned to the station for a few days to help out. In the meantime, Huddy’s wife, Erica, will run the station, Green said.