{"id":13852,"date":"2016-03-28T15:16:33","date_gmt":"2016-03-28T15:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=13852"},"modified":"2016-03-28T15:16:33","modified_gmt":"2016-03-28T15:16:33","slug":"north-georgia-professor-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-at-softball-game-is-saved-by-firefigher-teammate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=13852","title":{"rendered":"North Georgia Professor goes into cardiac arrest at softball game- is saved by firefigher teammate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Read the full story HERE\u203a\u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

(gainesvilletimes<\/a>) \u2013 Larry Morton was on second base when the sharp, metallic sound of a bat hitting a ball rang out. The 59-year-old man took off for third.<\/p>\n

But before he could get reach the base, the 5-foot-10 Morton stopped and collapsed.<\/p>\n

Morton had just suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of a game with his Rabun County senior softball team.<\/p>\n

Morton doesn\u2019t remember any of that day in August 2015. He can\u2019t recall the day before or much of the days following, either. But his teammates can.<\/p>\n

Morton, who plays shortstop for his team in a league of regular Wednesday morning doubleheaders, was acting and playing normally through the first game and the break between.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened apparently is I was on second base,\u201d he said, recounting the tale his teammates have shared with him. \u201cSo I had gotten a hit and was already on second and ran to third. Apparently, just before I got to third base, I stopped and went straight back like a pole.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fewer than 8 percent of people survive cardiac arrest outside a hospital. Luckily for Morton, his teammates and emergency responders reacted quickly to his medical emergency.<\/p>\n

Morton\u2019s team manager and a retired Atlanta firefighter Frank Pellegrino shouted for someone to call 911. He then raced to Morton\u2019s side to find out what was wrong<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was right there on top of me,\u201d Morton said. \u201cInitially some people, and I think he included, thought it was a stroke. But when I started turning the wrong color for a stroke, he started CPR.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, one person dialed 911. Another called to the park\u2019s main building for the onsite defibrillator.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey apparently shocked me twice with the AED,\u201d Morton said. \u201cBy the time Rabun County EMS arrived, I had a heartbeat and I was, I guess, breathing on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morton credits those quick responses for his survival and recovery.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"