Paramedic–Goalie Makes a Life-Saving Save at Gander Hockey Game
A Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (NLSHL) matchup turned into a real-life emergency response when Gander Flyers goalie Patrick O’Brien made a life-saving save long before stepping onto the ice. On Sunday, a fan collapsed at the Gander arena and became unresponsive, prompting bystanders to rush to the Flyers’ change room for help.
O’Brien, the team’s 26-year-old netminder—and a trained paramedic—sprang into action. Already half-dressed in his hockey gear, he immediately began performing CPR on the victim.
A Team Effort in an Unexpected Emergency
While O’Brien worked on the patient, Gander Mayor Claude Elliott, a retired paramedic, and another paramedic also stepped forward to assist. Together, the three responders rotated CPR efforts to maintain high-quality compressions while waiting for the ambulance.
Elliott later told CBC News that it was a striking sight to see O’Brien arrive in skates, pads, and a T-shirt, ready to help despite being moments away from game time.
“He showed up and certainly was a great help to us,” Elliott said. “You have to play it cool, and share it, and in this case there was enough of us to share it around so that this gentleman got the best of care.”
Thanks to the combined efforts of the three trained responders, the man had regained breathing by the time paramedics arrived. According to the latest report, he was in stable condition. Although the stadium had a portable defibrillator (AED), it was not required during the emergency.
👉 Paramedic-goalie makes quite the save at Gander game
Why CPR Training Matters
This incident is a powerful reminder that medical emergencies can happen anywhere—at sporting events, workplaces, public venues, or even at home. Quick, confident action by trained individuals can significantly increase a person’s chance of survival during a cardiac arrest.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) helps keep oxygenated blood flowing through the body until advanced medical care is available. Even just a few minutes without CPR can drastically reduce the likelihood of recovery.
The Gander incident highlights the importance of:
Immediate recognition of sudden collapse
Calling for help quickly
Starting CPR right away
Working as a team when multiple trained responders are present
Anyone can learn these lifesaving skills with proper training.
If you want to be prepared to help in situations like this, consider enrolling in a certified CPR course. Calgary First Aid offers comprehensive, hands-on CPR and AED training suitable for all experience levels:
👉 https://firstaidcalgary.ca/cpr-courses/
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