An impressive team effort at a local hockey rink likely saved the life of a 62-year-old man in Cornwall Sunday.
Gordon Crozier of North River went into cardiac arrest during the second period of his grandson's Atom 'A' hockey game at the APM Centre.
Three spectators at the game quickly scooted into action.
Steve Stapleton, 59, of Charlottetown was among the impromptu trio that came to Crozier's aid.
Trained in CPR (he had his most recent refresher course just last year), Stapleton started performing CPR after Crozier "started turning blue" and a pulse could not be found.
Stapleton did chest compressions on Crozier, a long-time friend, as another man blew air into Crozier's lungs.
While Stapleton performed CPR for "what seemed likes hours" but in reality was more like five minutes, a woman named Rizpah MacPhee ran to get the rink's defibrillator.
The defibrillator helped Crozier regain breathing on his own. The paramedics got on the scene about 15 minutes after Crozier first collapsed.
Crozier was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Wade Crozier later reported that his father was resting comfortably at the QEH. Wade offered "many thanks to all who helped out as without your help and the defibrillator at the rink, this would be a very different message."
Stapleton, a soft-spoken and humble man, wasn't too eager to be pegged as a hero.
"It wasn't just me," he said of the quick response to a life-threatening situation.
"I was just a part of it. And thank God Gordon is still alive. I have known Gordon for years."
Greg Stapleton, though, was keen to voice pride in the action of his father. He fired off an email to The Guardian to highlight the dramatic event.
"I feel that stories like these are what need to be heard in your paper and would be worth having other people know as well just how huge (it is) having people who are trained in proper CPR and also having a defibrillator in a rink for this exact reason," he said in the email.
Steve Stapleton believes everybody should have CPR training.
"You hope you never have to use it but at least if something happens, you know how to use it and it could save somebody's life," he said.
Trio revives man in cardiac arrest at Cornwall rink
Steve Stapleton
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Comments
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- Katie
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:38:24
Way to go, Uncle Steve! You're truly an inspiration and a hero :)
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- P
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:33:51
This is probably one of the best articles that the Guardian has published in a long time. Glad everything turned out so well. Kudos to the people who helped out the man.
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- Jenny
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:31:45
You couldn't meet a nicer guy than Stevie Stapleton. I'm not at all surprised that he jumped in to help. Good work Stevie!
Quick thinking on everyone's part, along with the defibrillator, meant this story had a good ending.
Very glad to hear Mr. Crozier is doing well. -
- BB
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:26
While I strongly applaud the efforts of all those involved and believe it is important to stress the importance of taking CPR and securing defibulators whereever possible, I personally found the details provided about the incident and the publishing of Mr. Crozier's name to be inappropriate and unethical. I found the item on CBC radio to be particularily troublesome. Health issues and especially those of this magnitude require strict adherance to privacy. I hope the PEI media considers this in the future. Notwithstanding these comments, it was a wonderful thing that was done by all those involved.
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- Dave
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:25:22
Wow , what a great GOOD NEWS story for a change . Just watched CBC Compas, where they did an interview with Mr. Stapleton. The nurse and firefighter should recive reconigion as well. Very glad the Prov. provides financial assistance for the purchase of portable defib. units in plases of assembly.
You never know when you may have to use your CPR training. The training that I recived in 2007, thru the Passport to Employment program, provided me the skills, that myself and another boater were able to use to assist a man in a drowning situation in August 2009. -
- Stapes
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:19:45
These are such great comments. I just wanted to say that from my own standpoint of actually being there when this happened was truly amazing to watch so many people get involved and actually do something to save this mans life. My Father Steve is a very humble man and thought nothing of it to jump in in a time of need and emergency. He was one of many that didn't panic and did all the right things to save Gordon. I would also like to mention Rizpah MacPhee and Emery Kenny and I don't know Jordon McMurrer's Mothers name but they all helped out and also were a huge part of why Gordon is alive. You all are heros in my mind. As a son, I have always thought of my Father as being a hero, but this just shows so many others what I already think of my Dad every day. Education in CPR, having a defibrillator are so important for this very reason. So many lives can be saved with these 2 things that it just makes sense for us to all learn and be educated on them. I wish Gordon all the best and a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him at the rink again very soon. Keep these great posts coming. These people should be praised for what they did!
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- Matt
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:14:59
Way to go Stevie and gang. Why are we reading about this on The Guardian's web site? Why is it not on the CBC's site?
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- Randy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:06
No surprise with the reaction of Steve and the others. Good people always respond in times of need.
God bless you all!
Proud of you my brother!!
Hab -
- Apolitical Observer
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:08:01
Good to see Rizpah always in nthe right place at the right time. Good Work!!
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- J-ROD
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:05:17
Great job steve and everyone involved.
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- SourisFirefighter
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:51
Great story. Mr stapleton, you and anyone else that helped Mr Crozier are without a doubt heroes. Your actions surely saved a life. Another good reason everyone should have first aid and CPR training.
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- IslanderGirl
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:58:58
This is the kind of story I like to read and makes me proud to be an Islander. I myself am going for my refresher course in CPR later this month and I pray I never have to use it, but it is a very valuable tool to have because you can really make a difference in some people's lives when they are in need. Kudos to Stapleton and best of health to Crozier.
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- Tracey
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:29
I commend each and everyone who took on the importance of saving this man's life. I lost my sister just before Christmas due to unknown complications with her heart. Our family was not as fortunate as the Crozier family but it was not because someone didn't try to save her. I have thought alot about the people that tried right to the end to save her life. We have suffered a great loss in our family but the people who tried to keep her alive have been traumatized also. It takes special people with enormous hearts and the time they have given to get CPR and First Aid training. We are so blessed to live in a place like PEI where everyone is so kind. Please put some thought into getting training so you are prepared if you are ever faced with a situation of saving someones life. God bless anyone who has been in this type of situation including our volunteer firefighters, they worked so hard on trying to save my sister, a very hard situation especially when you know the person you are trying to save. Bless the Crozier family and Gordon I hope you have health and happiness for many years. Thank God for the people like the trio who saved his life.
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- Sheryl
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:14
Having worked with Steve at CBC for years I can tell you he's always the guy I would want to have on hand in an emergency! I am glad this all worked out so well in the end.
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- way to go
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:38:33
very commendable.
hats off to all involved.
