Tampa Tribune
TAMPA, Fla. — Paramedics helped save the life of a 54-year-old runner who collapsed Saturday morning during the Gasparilla Distance Classic.
Tampa Fire Rescue medics Mike Campbell and George Nelson were watching runners at Bayshore and El Prado boulevards at about 8:25 a.m. when people yelled that someone had collapsed.
Spectators had started cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man, whose name has not been released. Campbell and Nelson then used a cardiac defibrillator to revive him.
By the time he arrived at Tampa General Hospital, the man was moving and asking rescuers what had happened, fire officials said. He had serious facial injuries as a result of his fall but appeared OK otherwise.
Tampa Fire Rescue said it responded to about two dozen calls along the race route, primarily for trips and falls and other minor injuries, as well as heat exhaustion.
Two years ago, paramedics used CPR to save a female runner who collapsed on the course.
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