A collegiate umpire in New York was saved by athletic trainers when he collapsed shortly after being hit in the chest by a pitch.
According to the Wellsville Sun, during the top of the first inning in a game between the Hornell Steamers and the Olean Oilers, "the home plate umpire took a ball off of the chest protector and was stunned for a minute. The batter took a half-swing and the ball deflected off the glove of the catcher, but did not lose speed."
The umpire regained his composure and said he was good to go, but Hornell general manager Paul Welker wasn't so sure. Moments later the umpire collapsed.
Lyndsey McCoy, an assistant athletic trainer at Alfred University and trainer for the Hornell Steamers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League, as well as Hornell High School athletics, noticed what was about to happen. She immediately sprinted for the on-site AED and was back to the umpire within 14 seconds.
While McCoy administered the AED and CPR, others called an ambulance.
The umpire was alert and breathing at the hospital and Welker said he was released just after 11 p.m.
The game between the two teams was suspended. Players gathered together at home plate and prayed for the umpire’s recovery.
“The Olean athletic trainer was there as well, they both jumped in with response mode and did everything they were taught until the ambulances arrived,” Welker said. “Emergency personnel were there in less than three minutes. They took over from there and the trainers assisted as they could … It was not a hard decision to suspend the game."
