TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Referees don’t often receive standing ovations at sporting events, but anyone in Two Rivers High School’s gym two months ago knows how deserving one is for Bob Andrews.
Andrews, a referee of 42 years, doesn’t remember a lot from his last time in Two Rivers’ gym, which was in early December.
Andrews suffered a massive heart attack near the end of the boys basketball game between Two Rivers and Valders.
“The only thing I remember is hitting the floor and asking Zak, the EMT, to get off of me and that was right after they put the paddles on”
Zak Peterson spoke to WLUK…..he remembers everything from that game, when he and another off-duty paramedic, along with two off-duty nurses, jumped out of the stands to help Andrews.
“You’re trained for it and you don’t think twice. Someone needs help, you go to them”
After weeks of recovery, Andrews and those who helped resuscitate him came together for a special halftime ceremony honoring each of them. It was called, “Celebrate Staying Alive.”
“They did everything right and that’s why I’m still here,” Andrews said.
Peterson was thrilled to be back in the gym, with Andrews.
“Met with him and the family a couple times in the hospital, just touched based to see how he is doing. To see him here, he looks phenomenal” The reunion idea came from students, wanting to raise money and awareness for the American Heart Association.
Two Rivers students, like Megan Funk, even put on their rival Valders’ red and white colors.
“We’re wearing them to show that we came together that night to save a man’s life and that even though we’re rivals, we can be a team”
“We need everybody out there to get trained. Even if it’s in hands only CPR, obviously we proved that one night that CPR and AED training saves lives,” Peterson said.
Likely leading to this ref, getting back in the game.
“I’m not going to retire. I’m going to keep going,” Andrews said.
Andrews started rehab this week. He hopes to return as an umpire by the end of baseball season. He also plans to ref volleyball and basketball next year.
