By Gretchen Brown
West Central Tribune
WILLMAR, Minn. — A Spicer man was recognized Tuesday for performing over 30 minutes of CPR in April to save his friend’s life.
Bob Sampson, of Spicer, was presented a lifesaving award by Kandiyohi County Sheriff Dan Hartog.
“CPR is so important, that people know it and know what to do in those circumstances,” Hartog said during the presentation in Willmar.
In an emotional recounting of the day, Sampson said he and his friend Royal Ashburn were outside in rural Kandiyohi County near Belgrade when Ashburn went into sudden cardiac arrest.
A trained former first responder, Sampson started CPR immediately. He called 911, and dispatcher Jody Norstegaard stayed on the line with him until a sheriff’s deputy and emergency responders arrived, encouraging him to keep going.
“I’d be sitting there talking to Royal with Jody on the phone, saying, ‘Royal, I don’t know if I can do this any longer,’ ” Sampson said.
Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Ardoff took over CPR for Sampson when he arrived, and soon after, New London Ambulance and Willmar Ambulance made it to the scene.
“I think what’s so great about this whole thing is how long Bob did CPR,” Hartog said Tuesday. “We figure Bob probably did CPR close to 35 minutes before Deputy Ardoff arrived at the scene.”
Ashburn was transported to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, and later St. Cloud Hospital. He was released after eight days.
“Thanks a million, thanks to everybody, that’s about all I can say,” Ashburn said Tuesday.
He and Sampson have been friends for eight years.
Norstegaard, Ardoff, and Willmar ambulance responders Jennifer Chapman and Lorenzo Chavez, as well as ambulance manager Brad Hanson were present at the award ceremony. Hanson stressed the skill and fluidity of Kandiyohi County’s first responder system, noting the importance of quick response in a rural area.
“Because of the work that’s being done by everybody working together, we’re saving lives every day,” Hanson said.
Copyright 2016 West Central Tribune