NOT ALL HEROES WEAR A CAPE!

Western Bureau:

When 20-year-old Wayne Lawrence became unresponsive after falling and hitting his head during an Arise Basketball League at the Montego Bay Cricket Club on Sunday, many onlookers broke down in tears because they thought he had died.

However, off-duty firefighter Mikhail Smith, who had only gone to the game by chance, rushed to his assistance, and after finding a weak pulse, he began utilising all his first aid skills, until Lawrence, who was seemingly out cold, slowly began responding, much to the relieve of those who were standing around and fearing the worse.

“God is good… . I am not going to take the full credit. I am happy I saved him and glad he is okay now. It took me almost 25 minutes to revive him and it was a scary moment.,” said Smith, who was showered with praise for saving Lawrence’s life.

"While I was assisting at the score table, Wayne went up for a rebound, got hit in the head, fell, and started having ‘fits’ (seizures),” explained Smith. “Instantly he started to stiff out, so I ran over quickly to him, and he started to ‘fits’ out again. I checked and he had a pulse but difficulty breathing.”

Smith said Lawrence was on his side, so he used his left foot to prevent him from going on his back as he tried to put him in a recovery position.

Smith, who recently did a refreshers course on first aid, said he was able to use those skills to get use as he worked meticulously to revive Lawrence as panic-stricken onlookers, some with tears flowing down their faces, looked on nervously.

The sombre mood slowly began to change as Smith calmly applied his life-saving techniques as Lawrence began to respond as the anxious onlookers looked on in admiration as the firefighter slowly got Smith to start breathing properly again.

“My skills just chipped in, and I just got to work. I tried to tilt his head back and open his air way, but he wouldn’t respond, he wouldn’t talk. He had difficulties talking and his heart rate was moving at a rapid pace, it was almost like it was pumping out his chest,” said Smith, in explaining the situation he was faced with.

“I put my finger in his hand and told him to squeeze my hand if he could hear me. It took a little time, so I coached him again and told him to do it again. I realized his motor skills were coming back. I stood behind him and told him to sit up so he could rest his head on me, but his head was dancing so I had to secure it,” added Smith.

Once Smith was satisfied that Lawrence was fully stabilize, he helped in getting him off to the Cornwall Regional Hospital for further care.

With the scary incident now behind him Lawrence is happy to be alive, albeit he does not remember everything that happened.

"Honestly, I feel I have been given a second chance at life because I felt like I died and came back,” Lawrence told The Gleaner yesterday. “It was very emotional for me seeing the physicality of the game and the competition, the two teams were at it. Seeing them both come together and giving me a warm reception after I got up, it felt great.”

“I went up to get the rebound and got hit in the right side of my face. On receiving that I became unconscious,” said Lawrence, in outlining what he remembers of the incident.

Smith, who is now view as a hero by the basketball fraternity, is recommending that everyone should try to have a basic knowledge of first aid.

“It can go a long way because of situation that may arise… it would be a great help in terms of saving someone. You can’t give CPR to someone that is breathing, so that is something people need to know,” said Smith.

Lawrence, who has a passion for basketball, is ready to get back on court but his family and friends are insisting that he waits until he clearance from the doctors to resume playing.

ashley.anguin@gleanerjm.com