elementary school

Teen Firefighter Saves Umpire's Life During Baseball Game

A Pennsylvania teen firefighter is being hailed a hero after he saved an umpire who collapsed during a baseball game. 

Michael Brodzinski, a 16-year-old member of the Folcroft Borough Darby Fire Company and student at Academy Park High School in Sharon Hill, was playing baseball at an elementary school in Folcroft Monday night.

"As I was up to bat, I hit a double over the second baseman's head," Brodzinski said. "I got to second base and I called time. The pitcher was getting ready to pitch again. I was looking at the umpire and he just fell right over onto his side." 

A crowd rushed to the umpire after he collapsed to the ground.

"Everyone's checking him out, seeing what happened to him and they lifted him up," Brodzinski said. "His face was really blue."

After being told the umpire didn't have a pulse, Brodzinski jumped into action.

"So I said, 'Then we should start CPR.' And they said, 'We don't know CPR.' So I was like, 'I know CPR.' So I hopped in, took his padding off his chest and started compressions and breath. Adrenaline kicked in and I just did what I was taught to do." 

The teen continued performing CPR on the umpire until an ambulance and medics arrived. The umpire was taken to the hospital where he is currently in stable condition, according to Folcroft Police.

The Fire Company praised Brodzinski for his heroic efforts on their Facebook page. Darby Fire Company Lieutenant Vince Lanni said Brodzinski saved the man's life.

"He immediately jumped into action and did essentially what he's trained to do and he really helped keep that man alive," Lanni said. "The fact that he acted so fast, I can't say it enough, it's unbelievable. He's young and he remembered what to do and just jumped into action." 

Brodzinski, who joined the fire company when he was only 14-years-old, told NBC10 he's passionate about helping others and hopes to become a career firefighter in Philadelphia after he graduates high school and turns 18.

"I just love it," he said. "I just love helping people. I just love being in this kind of field." 

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