SYLACAUGA, Ala. (WIAT) — Lew Murphy, a high school football referee who performed CPR on a fellow referee who collapsed on the field during the second quarter of Sylacauga’s home football game against Coosa Central, is being hailed as a hero.
Joey Shelnutt is now awaiting bypass surgery after his long-time friend and colleague, along with others, jumped into action to save his life.
“Absolutely, he’s a hero,” head football coach Chris Smelley said. “Just the awareness that he had that we were in an emergency situation is not normal, I definitely didn’t realize it that fast.”
Smelley added that Murphy immediately knew what to do, as he was trained in CPR. He said it quickly became a team effort in a critical moment:
“Lew started on the compressions right away,” he recalled, “and then we motioned over to get the paramedics out as well, and a cardiologist came out of the stands, and then a local firefighter came out of the stands and took over compressions.”
Clint Payton, a Lieutenant with the Sylacauga Fire Department, ran to the bottom of the stands and across the field to help:
“The EMS crew had already taken over compressions, but I knew they had to set their monitor up, they had a lot of work to do, so I took over the compressions for them until we took them to the ambulance.”
Payton said Shelnutt had to be resuscitated twice. He said everyone needs to know how to perform CPR:
“Be able to at least do it like Mr. Murphy. He was running up and down the field, he didn’t need to compression for seven or eight minutes, but to be able to start compressions until someone else can take over is huge.”
Superintendent Michele Eller said players and fans could be seen praying for Shelnutt. Shelnutt, who said on Monday that his vitals are looking great, has been texting Murphy from his hospital bed.
“Lou’s gonna tell you he’s not a hero, but he’s my hero.”
He also credits a nurse named Wendy who ran over to help.
“If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here talking,” Shelnutt said during an interview from the hospital via Zoom.
Shelnutt, who will undergo bypass surgery later this week, wants everyone to know how grateful he is for their kind words, thoughts and prayers. He plans to return to his duties as a referee next season. While Murphy did not want to go on camera following the emotional night, he shared a statement with us which reads in part:
“I’m grateful that I had CPR training and faith to move quickly to help my friend, Joey. May we pray he continues to heal well so that we can go back to doing what we love best, honoring the game of football and ensuring everyone playing stays safe.”
The post High school football referee hailed as a hero after administering CPR to colleague who collapsed on field in Sylacauga appeared first on WHNT.
