Aindling - A football match of the "Old Boys" took a dramatic turn on Tuesday evening when a 43-year-old player suddenly collapsed.
Thanks to the quick actions of his teammates and a recently installed defibrillator from MedX5, his life was saved.
Helmut Schaffelhofer collapsed on the field during the game without warning. His teammates reacted quickly: while one immediately began cardiac massage, two others rushed to the defibrillator 400 meters away at the stadium entrance.
"He was completely gone, not breathing and had no pulse," reports a member of the first responder group. When the defibrillator arrived on the scene, electrodes were stuck to his chest and several electric shocks were given. Helmut Schaffelhofer survived.
The mayor was relieved about the outcome of the incident. "The defibrillators have already paid for themselves," he stressed. The total of 18 devices have only been installed in the market town since mid-November, five of them in Aindling itself. The emergency doctor who arrived,
was impressed by the performance of the first responders: "That was a highlight of the first responders." He stressed the importance of defibrillator training and appealed to citizens to get training.
The local fire department offers training for small groups at any time. The rescued footballer received an implanted defibrillator and is in excellent health.
A real Christmas present for “Schnuffel” (Helmut Schaffelhofer), his helpers and the club. This incident impressively underlines the importance of publicly accessible defibrillators and well-trained first responders. It shows that quick and decisive action in emergency situations can save lives.
