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A treasure within a treasure: Volunteer happily shares talents at Bargain Box

 

Amos Grant, third from left, thanks H-F Racquet
& Fitness Club staff members, from left, Cory
Banks, Sylvia Gothard and Jim Scheffke for
helping save his life.

(Photo by Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)

The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District on Tuesday saluted the quick actions of H-F Racquet & Fitness Club staff that saved the life of a tennis player.

On March 22, Amos Grant of Country Club Hills was at the club for his regularly scheduled Tuesday evening doubles play.  He remembers telling his partner he felt dizzy.

Then he collapsed about 8:45 p.m. and went into cardiac arrest.

But staff quickly moved in as a team. Jim Schefflke started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A colleague immediately called 911, a third person got the AED defibrillator. And another got Dr. Jim McGarry, who was playing tennis on another court, to come assist.

Chicago Heights paramedics, who took the call for assistance from Homewood’s Fire Department, were finally able to get Grant’s heart back in a regular rhythm and transferred him to Advocate South Suburban Hospital.

Josh May, the club manager, said he was proud of Jim Scheffke, Cory Banks, Eileen Rohrer, Marilyn Pickert and Sylvia Gothard for their actions that night and for working quickly and precisely as a team.

The park district is “adamant about training,” May said, adding: “You can’t train to care any more than these guys do.”

Scheffke downplayed his role in working to revive Grant telling fellow staffers he’s sure anyone in the room would do the same. Grant said that was probably true, “but words can not express my thanks to you.”

A month after the event Grant said he’s a bit weak, but getting his strength back. He’s sure if he had been stricken anywhere other than the racquet club he wouldn’t be alive today.

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