Toledo Firefighter Saves Referee's Life with CPR During Semi-Pro Basketball Game

Toledo Firefighter Saves Referee's Life with CPR During Semi-Pro Basketball Game
John Sculli, a basketball referee, experienced a "widow maker" heart attack while officiating a semi-pro game between the Jamestown Jackals and Toledo Glass City in June 2022. The incident is called a "widow maker" because few people survive such an event. Doctors even told his fiancee, Donna, that almost no one comes back from widow makers. However, Sculli is that one percent who survived the heart attack.

Myles Copeland, a Toledo player and a firefighter, rushed to Sculli's side and started doing CPR within seconds of his collapse. Copeland, who was a forward on the team, had just graduated from the academy a year ago, and he knew exactly what to do when Sculli fell. Copeland said, "I've never witnessed someone just collapse, but I knew what had to be done."

Sculli returned to the gym where he suffered the heart attack and met with Copeland, who saved his life. It was the first time the pair met since the day of Sculli's collapse. Sculli said, "I was in the right place at the right time. I mean, that's why I'm here." Copeland was happy to meet Sculli and said that knowing that he helped save Sculli's life is "honestly one of the best feelings in the world."

After the heart attack, Sculli underwent a quadruple bypass surgery and returned to refereeing. He refereed almost 50 games this season and seems none the worse for wear. Copeland's quick thinking and action saved Sculli's life and made the ultimate Cinderella story come true.

Sculli's story serves as a reminder that cardiac arrests can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. It also highlights the importance of knowing CPR and taking action in an emergency. Copeland's actions demonstrate how important it is for first responders to be well-trained and prepared to respond to emergencies. Sculli's survival is a testament to the power of quick thinking and action, and a reminder that sometimes, being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference.