Dispatch audio and photographs from the night U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly at age 71 reveal the life-saving measures taken before his passing. Emergency medical responders were called to Graham's home Saturday night responding to a report of cardiac arrest. The audio recordings were obtained by CNN and The Wall Street Journal.
First responders arrived at a residence south of the capital shortly before 8:30 p.m. and performed CPR on an individual experiencing cardiac arrest. Officials later relayed that an unidentified woman, driving from Baltimore, had called dispatchers minutes earlier stating the resident's front door was unlocked. However, upon arrival, first responders found the door locked and initiated forced entry at 8:35 p.m.
Nearly 15 minutes later, emergency medical services reported administering CPR, and dispatchers sent a supervisor to assist the crew. Graham's name was not mentioned in the audio, and the patient was identified as 73 years old. Photos obtained by TMZ depicted paramedics attempting to revive the senator, who was seen on a gurney being wheeled from his home with first responders surrounding him.
An ambulance and fire truck transported Graham to George Washington Hospital's emergency room on Saturday night. The office of Graham, who had represented South Carolina since 2002, announced his death in the early hours of Sunday, stating the senator had passed away from a "brief and sudden illness" just two days after his 71st birthday. The dispatcher in the audio is heard mentioning EMS responding to a "cardiac arrest" at Graham's residence, though the specific location was censored.
No official cause of death has been confirmed. President Donald Trump shared a tribute on Truth Social, calling Graham "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known" and a "true American Patriot." Trump, a close ally of Graham, also recounted a final phone conversation where he claimed the senator, despite saying he was tired, wanted to see the passage of the SAVE America Act. The bill has passed the House of Representatives multiple times but has not advanced in the Senate.
Graham's death occurred days after a visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the ongoing Russian invasion. This meeting is understood to be the last public image of the senator, and there were no known health concerns prior to his trip to Ukraine.