It was probably the biggest story to come out of last Friday's game for Canby against Central Catholic.
By now, the story has been on national television and could have resulted in a tragedy.
Central Catholic junior running back Hayward Demison scored the game-winning touchdown over Canby with 7:45 left in the game. Demison scampered up the sideline 45 yards in the fourth quarter to put the Rams ahead 28-24.
From there, things turned to an unfortunate twist. It was later revealed that Demison suffered a heart attack just after the play. And our well wishes go out to him and his family that he is doing great and looks like he'll make a full recovery to play football next season.
Now, people have asked me what I saw and what happened.
From my perspective on the sidelines, it didn't seem there was indication of anything serious that happened following the play.
An ambulance eventually arrived at the endzone of the West Linn High School football field a few minutes later, but there was no stoppage in the game play. The contest proceeded just as usual.
I figured something had happened to a fan that required assistance.
All of a sudden, reading The Oregonian the next day, I realized the player who scored the game-winning touchdown suffered through a night he might remember for a long time.
The story has made national headlines, picked up by every local news outlet as well as nationally by Fox News, MSNBC and Yahoo news.
Here's the original story put out the Saturday following the game by The Oregonian.
Jerry Ullmer, The Oregonian,
Central Catholic's Hayward Demison 'just happy to be alive'
“It was the scariest thing I've ever been a part of,” Central Catholic football coach Steve Pyne said.
Demison, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound high school junior, was diagnosed with athletic asthma two years ago. So after his touchdown run, when his heart raced and he struggled to catch his breath, he sent for his inhaler. After using it, though, his heart only accelerated. Nauseated and dizzy, he lost his balance and leaned on assistant coach Woody Green.
“He was gasping for air like it was his last breath,” Green said.
He was having a heart attack.
“I just fell on the ground,” Demison said. “I don't remember anything else except waking up a few minutes later, and people are standing over me, and I'm in shock. I'm trying to get up, and everybody's saying, 'Stay there. Calm down.' I looked to my left and saw everybody, and they were crying.”
It was a scary situation, and hopefully one we don't have to see again.
Lisa Lyver, a cardiac nurse who was in the stands, came down to the field and performed CPR on Demison and simply saved his life.
A true hero. And we are certainly happy to hear that Demison is doing well.
