Photo for illustration purposes: A Thatcher officer used an AED machine to revive a pickleball player suffering cardiac arrest at the Thatcher pickleball courts near Reay Lane and Eighth Street on Wednesday morning.
By Jon Johnson
THATCHER – The quick action of a Thatcher officer brought a man back from cardiac arrest at the Thatcher pickleball courts near Reay Lane and Eighth Street on Wednesday morning.
According to a media release, officers were dispatched to the courts at about 7:42 a.m. regarding a 56-year-old man who was unresponsive and was not breathing.
While those at the scene began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Thatcher officer Jason Larson arrived with his Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine and delivered a shock to the victim, who was still on the pickleball court.
The AED machine jolt caused the male to regain consciousness, and paramedics from Lifeline Ambulance took over and transported the man to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center for additional treatment.
“We want to thank all of the citizens who were on scene and began CPR immediately,” Thatcher Police Chief Shaffen Woods said in the release. “Their actions along with the quick response of Officer Larson, Safford PD officers, and Lifeline Ambulance gave this man the best chance to survive this unfortunate incident.”
“We were very fortunate in this case that one of the citizens on the scene is a registered nurse who wasted no time in starting CPR. We would like to encourage anyone (who) has not been trained in CPR to get trained. You never know when you may need it. You could be the difference in someone’s life, which is likely the case today.”
Thatcher Police had the AED machine thanks to a grant from the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties to equip every police vehicle with one. In 2020, Thatcher Middle School coach Luke Ochoa and basketball players used an AED machine to save the life of the seventh-grade basketball coach Braunson Summers, who collapsed while running sprints.
“Thank you, citizens and first responders who worked together,” Woods said. “We appreciate you all. We would also like to extend warm wishes to the gentleman and his family during this time, and hope for a speedy recovery.”
