Ump Joyce helps save ballpark worker’s life
Umpire Jim Joyce is being credited with taking quick action to help save the life of a food service worker who collapsed of an apparent heart attack at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Russ Amaral, vice-president of ballpark operations, says Joyce happened to be walking past Jayne Powers when she collapsed before Monday night’s game between the Diamondbacks and Marlins.
After deciding it wasn’t a seizure, as some of her co-workers suggested, Joyce quickly started CPR.
Marlins bullpen catcher Jeff Urgelles, a former firefighter and para- medic, was called to the scene and began helping Joyce. Paramedics arrived moments later and transported the woman to a hospital, where her conditioned improved. Joyce, Urgelles and others involved were honoured in a brief ceremony before Wednesday night’s series finale. Urgelles carried the Marlins’ lineup card to home plate. Joyce is best remembered for blowing the call that cost Detroit’s Armando Galarraga a perfect game on June 2, 2010. Joyce told MLB.com on Tuesday that he knew he had to act quickly when he saw the woman go down. “I knew something was wrong,” Joyce said. “And I knew if something wasn’t done, this lady could actually die in front of me. It was more instinct than anything else.”
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