Article reposted from News9.com
Author: KARL TORP
News9.com – Oklahoma City, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports |
An athletic trainer in Harrah is being hailed a hero for coming to the aid of a referee who collapsed on the field.
It happened during the second overtime of a district soccer match between Harrah High School and Classen SAS Tuesday night.
“He didn’t trip, He didn’t fall, he just collapsed and I need to be there,” said Harrah athletic Geoff Hargis about what was going through his mind.
Hargis immediately started performing CPR and was aided by two parents from Classen. One happened to be a cardiologist.
“We were doing compressions and he’d take a breath, but we couldn’t get a solid pulse on him,” said Hargis.
Paramedics would soon arrive, as Hargis and others witnessed the man regain consciousness.
“Very relieved,” said Hargis.
But all anxiety wouldn’t be gone until Wednesday morning, when Hargis got a chance to speak with the referee.
“It was good to hear him talk in knowing that we were successful in keeping him alive,” said Hargis.
Due to budget constraints, athletic trainers are not always available for games.
Harrah’s athletic director is thankful the referee got help so quickly.
“We appreciate Geoff, but we appreciate all the athletic directors all over country that do what they do,” said Athletic Director Guy Worth.