A run-of-the-mill round recently turned into a life-and-death situation when 49-year-old Jon Crabbe collapsed on Ravenwood Golf Course’s fifth hole from cardiac arrest. Luckily, he was playing alongside his son Jack, who had learned CPR as a Victor High School freshman.
The 15-year-old jumped into action and is now credited with saving his dad’s life. After calling 911 and explaining a “purple colour” on his father’s skin, Jack began performing CPR with the emergency operator’s guidance.
Jack Crabbe is credited with saving his dad's life after he went into cardiac arrest while golfing.
"This 15-year-old kid demonstrated a heroic effort and the skills, and the courage needed to act promptly, and because of that he saved his father."https://t.co/r2MvGaGTLO
— 13WHAM (@13WHAM) October 22, 2024
“I was going for about three to four minutes,” Jack told the University of Rochester Medical Center. “They were counting with me. I was singing ‘Stayin’ Alive’ to keep the beat. My adrenaline was high. I was with my dad, and I wanted to make sure he’s OK.”
First responders then used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restart Jon’s heart and soon after transported him to UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital.
“I was pretty scared,” Jack admitted to Rochester’s ABC affiliate. “I was just praying the whole time and once we got to the hospital, I got to see him and the doctors said CPR helped a lot.”
Now recovering after his son’s heroism, Jon Crabbe woke up in the hospital stunned (and grateful) for what happened. He had “no idea” what happened at Ravenwood, and his wife Tricia stated outright that Jack “saved our family.”
Dr. Krishna Rao, who looked after Jon at UR Medicine, emphasised the importance of Jack’s valiant actions.
“That initial CPR is necessary to continue to allow the blood flow to continue so that his brain and the rest of his body functions are maintained,” Rao said. “Here this teen, this 15-year-old kid, demonstrated a heroic effort and the skills, and the courage needed to act promptly, and because of that he saved his father.”
The Crabbes are using this perilous moment to push for everyone out there to get CPR certified. “It doesn’t take that long and it’s not very hard to do,” Jon said. “You never know when you’ll need it but, if you do need it, you might be saving a family member or anyone’s life.”
October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. You can find a course to learn CPR near you at the American Heart Association’s website.
