IPFW Senior Travis Barnes works at the Gates Sports Center.
On August 7, while working, he administered an Automatic Electronic Defibrillator to a basketball player who’d collapsed during a game and had stopped breathing.
That player was 44-year old Ken Solter, a local father of three.
“The only thing I remember is seeing nothing but gray and dropping to the ground,” said Solter. “After that I was trying to get up and it seemed like everything was pulling me back down.”
Barnes, 26, attributes his quick thinking to his training with the United State Marines, as well as additional CPR training from IPFW. He says he simply reacted.
“All those guys were there,” said Barnes, referring to Solter teammates that morning. “Everybody did what they were supposed to do and under the circumstances, everyone reacted perfectly.”
Solter said he didn’t really know how to thank Barnes for his grace under fire.
“I mean, what do you do, offer him a gift card?” Solter said, laughing. “Thank you just doesn’t seem to be enough. I’m very lucky to be here and I’m very thankful for everything [Barnes] and everyone else did for me.”
