'Thankful to be alive,' says referee after collapsing at Freeport HS basketball game
Referee who collapsed for the second time in 10 years during a basketball game is saved again by good Samaritans.
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A high school referee says he's thankful to be alive after collapsing on a Nassau County basketball court for the second time in 10 years.
Terry Twibell spoke to News 12 on the phone as he recovers in the hospital after Friday night's incident in Freeport.
Twibell says his heart stopped, and his life was saved, thanks in large part to a former student who is now a nurse.
"His CPR was so effective because he broke ribs, which means he was really able to get to my heart and help restart my heart," Twibell said.
As News 12 reported back in 2016, Twibell went into full cardiac arrest during a basketball game in Seaford.
First responders and good Samaritans used an AED to bring back his pulse. They were later recognized with citations from local leaders for their efforts.
Back then, Twibell was placed in a medically induced coma before he underwent a quadruple bypass.
While in the hospital recovering from multiple broken ribs, a broken nose, and with multiple stitches on his chin and eye, likely from hitting his head when he fell to the floor, Twibell said on Saturday he can hardly believe that he's now been saved twice by good Samaritans.
"I'm incredibly thankful. I'm grateful, I cannot believe, I mean, twice, God has been good to me and somehow, I've been in the right place at the right time where people were able to step in and help me," Twibell added.
He also said the outpouring of support from what he calls his "referee brotherhood" has been overwhelming.
Twibell says more than a dozen referees showed up at the hospital to support him.
Twibell told News 12 that he plans to go back to referring.
He said he's been doing it for 20 years and loves it.
