Not many people can say after a 24-hour shift as a fireman, they drove to their professional basketball game in New York and then saved a life. However, as of now, Myles Copeland can and will be remembered by the basketball community for years to come. After finishing a 24-hour shift in Toledo, Ohio, Copeland drove to New York for his other job. He plays in a professional basketball league, City of the Basketball League , for the Toledo Glass, according to Jamal Collier for ESPN .
The past week, it seems his two worlds collided early in last Saturday’s game. One of the referees, John Sculli, passed out on the court and became unconscious. Midgame, Copeland saw this and ran towards the conflict and attempted to administer CPR until the paramedics arrived, according to ESPN.
Myles Copeland plays in The Basketball League, a pro startup.
His day job: firefighter in Toledo.
After a 24-hr shift, he drove to New York for a playoff game.
When a ref collapsed, Copeland performed CPR on him for 10 minutes — saving his life.
Then, he helped his team win. pic.twitter.com/HQhDD6ZH5i
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 14, 2022
Myles Copeland Instinctive Actions
Naturally, to become a fireman or any first responder there has to be some level of bravery. Copeland’s bravery was on full display during the incident of Sculli’s passing out. He speaks about how he surprised himself with how fast and effective he responded.
“It was kind of instinctual. It surprised me how quickly I was able to switch into that mode, especially being in a basketball game,” Copeland told ESPN on Wednesday. “But with being a firefighter, when you’re off the job, you’re really not off the job. You still got to keep an eye out for the community and what’s going on around you.”
Quick thinking helped save Sculli’s life. It turns out he’s scheduled to have heart surgery in the coming weeks. Oddly enough, they finished the game and Toledo came back from behind to win the elimination game against the Jamestown Jackals. They are set to take on Kokomo Bobcats on Thursday in Indiana. They plan to honor Copeland’s efforts prior to tip-off.
The president of the league David Magley praises Copeland for his heroic efforts. He emphasized he deserves to be praised and celebrated not for just saving lives, but for the way he carried himself after the fact.
“A guy like this deserves to be celebrated,” league president David Magley said during a phone interview. “Not just because he saved his life but the humility with which he carried himself afterward.
“He’s the kind of person that’s our hero because he stepped up when he needed to and he won’t take any of the credit himself. It was just divine timing.”
