NORTH OXFORD, Mass. (WKRC) – A Little League baseball game turned into an emergency room when an umpire collapsed and stopped breathing. Luckily, a hero was waiting in the crowd.
In the second inning of Oxford Little League’s tournament semi-final baseball game, a foul ball struck the home plate umpire, Korey Pontbriand, in the throat. Although he clearly took a hard blow, he regained his composure and continued to work. According to onlookers, the man was in “obvious pain.” After an inning, he switched with another umpire.
Dr. Jennifer LaFemina of the University of Massachusetts Memorial Health immediately recognized Korey was acting strange and spoke to him about how he was feeling. She convinced Korey to leave the game, and he reluctantly agreed.
A few innings later, Korey collapsed. Dr. LaFemina immediately recognized the man was not breathing and administered emergency medical services until first responders arrived.
After being taken to the hospital, Korey announced that he could breath on his own.
“If not for Jennifer’s acute awareness and heroic efforts, this story may have had a different ending,” read a Facebook post from Algonquin Baseball and Softball. ” Those close to the situation report that Jennifer saved Korey’s life.”
LaFemina unfortunately missed her son score the run that won the game, but was able to watch her son and his team win the entire tournament the next day.