Another High School Athletic Trainer Steps Up to Save a Life

For the third time in less than a year, a high school Athletic Trainer has stepped in to provide critical care during a medical emergency. This time, it was Oxnard High School’s Jessica Fortner who came to the rescue.

Just before kickoff at the Camarillo-Oxnard football game last week, Fortner noticed Camarillo defensive coordinator Tim Murphy experiencing what appeared to be a seizure on the sideline.

The 34-year-old Athletic Trainer, a former Oxnard track athlete, immediately sprinted across the field as players and fans looked on.

Fortner quickly rolled Murphy onto his side to keep his airway clear and worked alongside Camarillo’s Athletic Trainer and two EMT-trained coaches to stabilize him until an ambulance arrived within minutes.

Thanks to their combined efforts, Murphy was able to recover quickly.

By Thursday night, Murphy was already back on the sidelines coaching.

“I was very lucky to do it where I was,” Murphy said, adding that initial medical tests came back negative, though he plans to undergo further evaluation.

This incident highlights once again the vital role Athletic Trainers play in school athletics. Just last month, quick action by San Clemente’s soccer coach and Athletic Trainer—including the use of an AED—saved a coach in cardiac arrest. Last spring, the Athletic Trainer at Culver City High School helped revive a track athlete under similar circumstances.

The Oxnard Union High School District is fortunate: thanks to an agreement with St. John’s Regional Medical Center and Dignity Health, all but one of its schools have dedicated Athletic Trainers on staff.

Their presence continues to prove invaluable, ensuring student-athletes, coaches, and staff have immediate access to expert care when seconds matter most.

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