Quick-thinking citizens prevented a possible death during a baseball game in Long Beach’s Blair Field Saturday afternoon by rendering medical aid to a spectator, Long Beach fire officials announced yesterday. 

A man collapsed in cardio-pulmonary arrest while watching the game on Saturday, March 19, according to the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD).

“When the man was seen motionless and slumped in his chair, a woman (who was a former paramedic) assisted him to the ground and began chest compressions with the help of another quick-acting bystander on scene,” a release stated.

Another person began rescue breathing and two others called 9-1-1 and assisted to help the unconscious man.

Bystanders eventually used an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to help the man regain a heartbeat as paramedics arrived at the scene, according to LBFD officials.

Authorities said that upon arriving at a local hospital, the man regained consciousness and asked “what the heck the score (of the game) was.”

“This event had a positive outcome due to people who had CPR training and the willingness to help,” LBFD officials said. “Our community was extremely fortunate to have them there today.”

For CPR training, please contact the Long Beach Fire Department at http://longbeach.gov/Fire/.