Referee Terry Twibell saved by spectator after heart attack during Freeport High basketball game, official says
A referee was hospitalized and is in stable condition after collapsing at a basketball game at Freeport High School on Friday, a Nassau County high school athletics official said. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
A referee was rushed to the hospital after having a "serious medical emergency" during a basketball game at Freeport High School on Friday, according to a statement from district Superintendent Alice Kane.
Referee Terry Twibell was officiating a 6:45 p.m. girls varsity basketball game between Freeport and Uniondale High School. He had a heart attack on the court and was saved by a spectator, according to Patrick Pizzarelli, the executive director of Section VIII high school athletics in Nassau County.
"The guy went down during the game. There was a doctor in the audience who came down and started CPR," Pizzarelli told Newsday late Saturday morning. "The EMTs got there, they revived him, took him to the hospital and he’s in stable condition."
Friday's emergency was not Twibell's first heart attack on the court. Newsday reported in 2016 that he collapsed while officiating a Seaford Middle School basketball game and was saved by Nassau County police officers, who were later honored for their effort by the Nassau County Legislature.
"I’m very thankful that Freeport School District and the fan acted in such a quick manner to save this fella’s life," Pizzarelli said.
Friday's game was canceled after Twibell collapsed. It's unclear how far along the game was when the emergency occurred, or whether the remainder of the game will be rescheduled.
Kane in her statement said that "911 was immediately called" once the referee collapsed and that the district was informed the referee was "conscious and speaking" on Friday.
The district official thanked school staffers "who responded immediately to the situation and provided comfort and care to the referee prior to the arrival of the EMT first responders."
Twibell did not return Newsday's call for comment on Saturday. In 2016, Newsday identified him as a 56-year-old father of three and marketing rep.
Newsday was unable to reach the school district for further comment Saturday. A spokeswoman with the Freeport Police Department said the agency declined to comment and referred Newsday to the Village Attorney’s Office, which is closed until Tuesday.
The school district is offering counseling to members of the basketball team and students who were at the game.
"I want to thank all those in attendance at the game for their understanding, compassion and cooperation during this difficult situation," Kane wrote in her statement.
Sam Kmack covers the Town of Islip for Newsday. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and previously worked as a city watchdog reporter in the Phoenix metro area, as well as an investigative journalist at the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.
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