Mizzou grad played key role in saving life of South Carolina State player
This was the best happy ending ever.
During a South Carolina State men’s basketball game against North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon, a player collapsed after going into cardiac arrest.
After South Carolina State senior guard Ty Solomon fell to the court, a team trainer came to his aid and administered CPR, the Raleigh News & Observer reported. Paramedics at the arena then used an automated external defibrillator on him.
Solomon’s heart started again and he is expected to be fine, but it was a frightful scene on Saturday:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Both teams now huddled together praying for SC State player, who is still lying on the sideline as CPR is performed. <a href="https://t.co/rL4lBU2Fvw">pic.twitter.com/rL4lBU2Fvw</a></p>— Pack Pride (@PackPride) <a href="https://twitter.com/PackPride/status/937009545985036288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The name of the South Carolina State trainer is Tyler Long, and he is a 2016 graduate of the University of Missouri.
“Tyler stepped in at the right time, I guess, with CPR,” Solomon told the News & Observer. “Everybody else came in with the defibrillator and did what they had to do to revive me.”
Solomon told the News & Observer that he regained consciousness while being removed on a stretcher from the arena in Raleigh, N.C. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to be released later this week.
South Carolina State coach Murray Garvin tweeted a statement after the incident and praised Long.
“I want to start by thanking our Athletic Trainer, Tyler Long, for his quick response in that life or death moment,” Garvin wrote. “He along with the EMS staff rose to the occassion and saved Ty’s life.”
On Monday, Solomon met with Long and the paramedics.
Ty Solomon @SCStateAthletic reunites w/ first responders who saved his life after collapsing #ABC11 @RexHealthcare pic.twitter.com/pJ6uYmtVyJ
— Tim Pulliam (@TimABC11) December 4, 2017
Understandably, the experience changed Solomon’s life.
“Right now, it’s just cherish every moment and don’t take anything for granted,” Solomon told the News & Observer. “Life, basketball, sports, family. Anything. Not holding grudges with anyone if you can. Get over it as quickly as you can because you are not promised the next second.”
Mizzou was proud of Long’s efforts.
Pete Grathoff: 816-234-4330, @pgrathoff
This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 2:42 PM.