Saskatoon man recognized for lifesaving efforts

During a slo-pitch game in early September, John Wiebe came in from the field and sat down on the bench just like he had the inning before. The next thing he remembers is waking up at Royal University Hospital.

Wiebe, who has had heart problems for ten years since acquiring lyme disease, had a cardiac arrest on the bench.

His teammate and CPR instructor, Dave Hume, recognized what was going on and sprung into action.

“I noticed John had collapsed on the bench. He was on the ground and I recognized his breathing efforts as a possible cardiac problem and so I just did what I’ve been telling other people to do and started working on him,” said Hume.

“I started unbuttoning his shirt and figured this isn’t going to go well so I just ripped his shirt open and started doing chest compressions.”

According to the Fire departments battalion chief Len Protz, after being notified of the incident they responded in 27 seconds and arrived on the scene at Umea Park in under three minutes where they took over for Hume.

On Monday, Protz held a press conference to recognize Hume’s efforts in saving Wiebe’s life. Hume was given an Award of Merit certificate.

“I’ve done this thousands of times on mannequins but I’ve never done it on an actual human being. When I teach courses people ask if I’ve ever done this, and I say no I haven’t and I hope I never have to,” said Hume about the incident.

“But anyway it just kind of kicked in and I just did what I learned.”

Both Wiebe and his wife Marianne were on scene at Fire Station No. 1 on Idylwyld Drive to publicly thank Hume for what he did.

“We are very grateful that Dave was there that day and his immediate response made the difference. Minutes matter, and if it wasn’t for Dave in those seconds John would not be here today,” said Marianne.

“He has no brain damage because of the immediate oxygen being supplied because Dave applied the compressions and he didn’t give up. Other members ran to get the AED and Dave didn’t give up until fire hall seven came.”

She said she hopes this story inspires more people to learn CPR “because you never know whose life you are going change, or save.”