During a routine spring football practice at Brunswick High School, a terrifying moment unfolded when Defensive Coordinator Thomas Tedder suddenly collapsed on the field — his heart had stopped beating.
“It was just a normal day of practice as they were getting ready for the fall season,” said Glynn County Schools Athletics Director Steve Waters. “Little did we know our defensive coordinator, a man we all love, had a little surprise for us.”
Gantos reached Tedder within 30 seconds, immediately checking his pulse and blood pressure before beginning CPR. Meanwhile, other coaches called 911 and retrieved the school’s AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
“Within three minutes of the initial collapse, Gantos delivered the first AED ‘shock’ and resumed CPR,” Waters said. “After another two minutes, she delivered the second ‘shock’ and detected a weak pulse.”
An ambulance arrived just 10 minutes after Tedder’s collapse, transporting him to Southeast Georgia Health System’s Brunswick hospital.
“Everything, from the minute he fell to getting in the ambulance, was in 10 minutes,” Waters emphasized. “Without the AED and without Hunter, I don’t think Coach (Tedder) would be with us today.”
Waters praised the life-saving coordination between coaches, trainers, and local health organizations.
“We practice these situations every year,” he said. “You hope you don’t have to use them. In this case, we had to, and they worked out flawlessly.”
He added that the district plans to continue and strengthen its partnerships, noting,
“The lifesaving efforts of our coaches and trainers — and the training they receive — is a relationship we want to continue as long as I am here.”
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