'They saved his life': Daughter of man who collapsed at Pirate City thankful for team's medical response

BRADENTON, Fla. — The daughter of a man who collapsed on the field at Pittsburgh Pirates spring training practice Tuesday morning credited the team’s medical and training staff for saving her father’s life.

Ernie Withers, 68, of Bradenton, Fla., was shagging fly balls in the outfield when he went into cardiac arrest, his daughter, Lisa Heath, told the Tribune-Review. Pirates medical staff performed CPR and used a defibrillator on Withers in the outfield. Withers was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital, where he had surgery to insert four stents, Heath said.

“If it wasn’t for them, he wouldn’t be alive because they saved his life,” Heath told the Trib by phone Tuesday afternoon. “Everybody did a phenomenal job. Because of their quick response, it doesn’t appear he has any neurological issues. They saved his life 100%. We are beyond grateful.”

Allegheny Health Network’s chairman of orthopedics Dr. Patrick DeMeo, the Pirates’ medical director since the 2002 season, performed CPR and used a defibrillator on Withers on the field. Heath said her father was shocked twice and was unconscious for two minutes.

In addition to DeMeo, Pirates lead team physician Dr. Todd Franco and director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk helped revive Withers.

“Drs. Patrick DeMeo, Todd Franco and Todd Tomczyk are exceptional clinicians, and we are extremely proud of, though not surprised by, how quickly they responded today to help save the life of Ernie Withers at the Pirates spring training facility in Bradenton,” said Dan Laurent, vice president of corporate communications for AHN. “Thanks to their heroic efforts and that of other first responders, we have seen yet again how important quick access to CPR and AED technology are for those who suffer a cardiac emergency. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Withers and his family, and wish him a swift and complete recovery.”

The incident comes about seven weeks after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin — a McKees Rocks native and former Central Catholic and Pitt football player — was revived on the football field after being tackled during a game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2.

Team medical personnel administered CPR and revived Hamlin on the field before he was transported by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. In the days following, doctors said that immediate response from medical professionals on the sidelines saved Hamlin’s life.

A Pirates spokesman said there are multiple defibrillators at Pirate City, the franchise’s spring training facility. One defibrillator is located at each field, as well as the workout facility, main building and in the clubhouse.

“On behalf of the Pirates medical staff related to this afternoon’s cardiac event, the overall emphasis of preparedness was key,” the Pirates said in a statement. “The collective, quick response by the medical team, led by Dr. Patrick DeMeo amongst other team MDs, certified athletic trainers, coaches, the Bradenton operations staff, clubhouse staff, Bradenton FD, Manatee County EMS was critical to ensure the individual received appropriate care and transfer to the hospital.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton on the quick response by the team’s medical staff to perform CPR on a guest who collapsed in the outfield during Tuesday’s practice at Pirate City. pic.twitter.com/7ELWoKSofX

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 21, 2023

Withers is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. He retired Dec. 31 as general manager of the Mercedes-Benz auto dealership in nearby Sarasota. He was invited to participate in practice because he had served as Manatee Chamber of Commerce chair during the season when Major League Baseball restricted fans from games because of covid-19, preventing him from throwing out a first pitch at a spring training game at LECOM Park.

Jeff Podobnik, vice president of the Pirates’ Florida and Dominican operations, is the current chairman of the board for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton credited DeMeo, Franco and Tomczyk for doing “an unbelievable job” by “jumping into action very quickly.”

“I think we’re really fortunate that we had that group of people (nearby),” Shelton said. “A scary incident that they were on top of right away. … I can’t give enough credit to our group and how quickly they were responsive.”

Pirates players, coaches and staff huddled in the outfield and politely clapped as the man was taken off the field on a stretcher. pic.twitter.com/dcQK8kSlmU

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 21, 2023

Practice came to a halt around 11 a.m. when Withers collapsed. Pirates coach Kevin Young immediately called for assistance from trainers. As the medical staff attended to Withers, Pirates players dropped to a knee or squatted in silence.

Players, coaches and staff — including team chairman Bob Nutting, general manager Ben Cherington and Shelton — gathered in a huddle nearby in the outfield and looked on as Withers was treated. They politely clapped when he was taken away on a stretcher by paramedics.

Pirates pitcher Rich Hill calls the collapse of a guest during practice a “sobering moment” of spring training. pic.twitter.com/UayKc2NMAV

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 21, 2023

Pirates pitcher Rich Hill, who was preparing to throw a live batting practice, watched everything unfold from the left-field line. He said it was a “breath of relief” to learn from coaches that Withers was responsive. Practice resumed at 11:50 a.m. and finished at 12:20 p.m.

“It’s such a sobering moment,” Hill said. “When we’re out there, getting ready to perform a task and play a game that we all love, to see something like that happen with the gravity of the situation is very real.”