On October 5, 2017, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Andrea “Annie” Grant and Matthew “Ed” Youngblood saved the life of Richard Morrow, who was dehydrated on the paths surrounding the University of Maine campus.
“Annie and I were taking a walk on the bike path and we came across one of the emergency poles, and Morrow was by it and hunched over. We decided to ask him if he was okay and some other questions and decided that we needed to get some help,” Fitzpatrick said. “We called Matt [Youngblood] to bring out a gator to bring him to the fieldhouse to get some water because it seemed like he was dehydrated. When we got Matt there, he passed out and started turning blue and we ended up calling for help on the emergency pole and Matt went to get EMT’s. Annie [Grant] performed CPR while we waited for help to arrive.”
All three work for UMaine Athletics. Fitzpatrick is the assistant coach for the softball team, Grant is the coordinator for athletic events and facilities and Youngblood works for the athletic grounds.
“I was out running on the bike path and felt dizzy and lightheaded, so I bent down on my hands and knees trying to let the fog lift for 10 to 15 minutes,” Morrow said. “Nothing changed, and at that time Annie [Grant] and Jordan [Fitzpatrick] came along and saw that I was in distress, called Matt [Youngblood] to bring the cart around. As I got on the cart, I passed out, next thing I remember I was waking up and the ambulance crews were there and at that time, it was a remarkable feeling, I felt relaxed. After going to the emergency room, it turns out I was dehydrated.”
“At first, when we called Matt [Youngblood], we did not think that the situation was as intense as it was until he arrived,” Grant said. “We then thought, ‘What can we do to help him?’”
“I don’t think any of us really thought about it, we just saw someone in distress and knew we had to help,” Fitzpatrick said.
“This is a good example of the community stepping up and helping someone out,” Scott Curtis, a University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) officer, said. “We [UMPD] can’t do it all so we thank you, Matt, Annie and Jordan.”
The UMPD gives out awards to civilians who display courageous behavior or actions. The lifesaving award is often an award given to the officers, but the three were recognized for saving the life of Morrow.
“This is a lifesaving award for some civilians who we felt earned it, ”Roland LaCroix, the chief of UMPD, said.
“I was very fortunate that they were there,” Morrow said. “They were very kind to stick around and see me through that bad time.”
While it is hoped that incidents like this don’t happen, Youngblood offered some advice.
“Don’t hesitate, just act.”
