Alachua County deputies use CPR, Narcan to revive man who collapsed in courthouse; ‘It was a relief’

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -A group of Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies are being credited with helping save a man’s life after he suddenly became unconscious inside the Alachua County Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday morning.

Deputies quickly cleared the courtroom and began providing emergency medical care.

Deputy Donald Schenck said he recognized something was seriously wrong after the man sat up, his eyes rolled back and his skin color suddenly changed.

“I noticed that when he sat back up, his eyes rolled back and his head, he instantly changed colors, so we had a medical emergency,” Schenck said.

Deputy Christina Thueson was nearby in the courthouse holding area when she heard Schenck call for everyone to clear the courtroom. She immediately responded to help.

Deputy James Hardy heard the emergency call over the radio while he was downstairs and ran upstairs to assist.

Deputies began performing CPR and used the AED as they worked to stabilize the man.

Hardy said the response came down to the training deputies receive.

“It goes back to the training,” Hardy said. “It was essential to provide us those tools.”

When the man did not respond to initial efforts, deputies considered the possibility that he was experiencing a narcotic overdose. They administered Narcan nasal spray.

The man eventually opened his eyes and became responsive and coherent. Emergency medical crews arrived and took over care. The man was transported to a hospital for further medical evaluation.

Thueson said the deputies’ different roles and training allowed them to work together during the emergency.

“We all work like a well-oiled machine at that moment,” Thueson said. “Every one of us, we knew our role, we talked to each other, we worked through it, and we had the best outcome we could have.”

Hardy said deputies don’t always know what is causing a person to become unconscious when they arrive at the scene, making access to Narcan and other emergency tools critical.

The deputies said they were relieved when the man became responsive.

“It was a relief. It was a relief that he was back, we did it. We did it. We worked really well together,” one deputy said.

The Alachua County Jail provides free Narcan with no questions asked. A Narcan dispenser also will be installed soon in the lobby of the jail’s main building, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Narcan, also known as naloxone, can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing when administered in time.

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