Myles Copeland saves referee John Sculli’s life throughout The Basketball League recreation

After ending a 24-hour shift as a firefighter in Toledo, Ohio, final weekend, Myles Copeland headed to New York to begin her different job, a participant for Toledo Glass Metropolis of The Basketball League, for the playoff in opposition to the Jamestown Jackals.

However his two worlds collided close to the top of the primary half of Saturday’s recreation when the referee, John Sculli, handed out on the sector and was unresponsive.

It occurred throughout from Toledo’s bench, and instantly, Copeland acquired into motion. He checked Sculli’s vitals, however didn’t really feel his pulse or see him breathe, so Copeland started performing CPR till paramedics arrived.

“It’s an intuition,” Copeland mentioned in a telephone interview with ESPN on Wednesday. “However with being a firefighter, whenever you give up, you actually don’t go away the job. You continue to must control the group and what’s occurring round you.”

Copeland’s fast response saved Sculli’s life. He’s scheduled to have coronary heart surgical procedure this week to repair a blockage that left him unconscious and is anticipated to return subsequent season.

After Copeland’s heroic bout, Toledo rallied to win Saturday’s knockout and, with one other win on Sunday, it superior to the convention semifinals, the place it’ll face Kokomo. Bobcats on Thursday in Indiana. The Basketball League plans to honor Copeland earlier than that recreation.

“A man like this deserves to be celebrated,” event president David Magley mentioned in a telephone interview. “Not simply because he saved his life however the humility with which he carried himself again then.

“He’s the type of man that’s thought-about our hero as a result of he stepped up when wanted and he’s not going to take any credit score. It’s simply divine timing.”

Copeland, 25, performs Division III faculty basketball on the College of Trine in Indiana, and that is his first season enjoying with The Basketball League. He’s been a Toledo firefighter for over a yr.

His shifts on the fireplace division are 24 hours lengthy adopted by 48 hours off, so in the course of the season he solely involves observe or video games that fall on the times he’s off. Had a shift that ended Saturday morning to make it in time for this playoff recreation, which ended up being a fortuitous timing.

“Since then, folks have been taking a look at me like that. They’ve a distinct feeling about me, such as you’re a hero,” Copeland mentioned. “Individuals have informed me lots, however I nonetheless have a tough time pondering of it as a result of I really feel like I’ve simply executed one thing else, one other factor that I’ve to do. I don’t really feel like I’ve gone out. my approach to do something particular that’s simply what i used to be put right here to do god was in a position to work by means of me i really feel like different folks see me as a hero however I don’t see myself as totally different.”