Basketball Player Performs CPR On Ref Who Collapsed Mid-Game, Helps Save Life

A Toledo basketball player turned into a hero during a game last weekend – successfully performing CPR on a referee who collapsed mid-game.

The chilling incident was captured on video… when, during Toledo Glass City’s game against the Jamestown Jackals on June 11, a referee wobbled, then collapsed to the ground.

You can see in the pictures, referee John Sculli remained motionless for a few moments…before The city of glass Myles Copeland rushed to help.

Copeland – who is also a firefighter – said ESPN he didn’t feel Sculli’s pulse or see him breathing when he got to the man… so he started CPR with the help of another referee until the finish paramedics.

And, thanks to his efforts, Sculli – who has served for almost 40 years – survived – and is now expected to undergo surgery this week to address his health issues.

“It was kind of instinctive,” Copeland, 25, said of the whole thing. “It surprised me how quickly I was able to switch to this mode, especially during a basketball game.”

“But, as a firefighter, when you’re not at work, you really aren’t at work. You always have to keep an eye on the community and what’s going on around you.”

He continued, “I didn’t feel like I had gone out of my way to do anything special. That’s just what I was put here for. God was able to work through me. I I feel like other people see me differently as a hero, but I don’t see myself as different.”

FYI, Copeland traveled to New York for the playoff game after working around the clock as a firefighter – and his team ultimately won the game, 96-93.