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REPORT: Little League Umpire Able To Thank Local Mother For Saving His Life In Freak Accident During Game

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Image not from story: Wikimedia Commons/Public/U.S. Army RDECOM from Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA

Fiona McLoughlin Contributor
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A Massachusetts Little League umpire praised a local mother and doctor who saved his life during a game.

Earlier in July, umpire Korey Pontbriand stood behind the plate with Dr. Jennifer LaFemina’s son on the mound, according to Boston25 News. During the game’s second inning, a foul ball slammed into Pontbriand’s neck.

“It hit me directly in the throat … This was legit like a freak accident,” he told Boston25.

LaFemina, an oncologist at UMass Memorial Health Cancer Center, was in the audience alongside her medical assistant who watched the incident unfold, the outlet reported. She watched over the umpire as he decided to stay in the game for the following few innings.

The doctor then became concerned as Pontbriand’s symptoms appeared to worsen. He recounted to Boston25 the moment LaFemina stepped in to help. (RELATED: Umpire, Coach Get Into Wild Brawl At North Carolina Little League Game Over Swearing In Front Of Kids).

“Jennifer pulled me over there and said, ‘You’re showing me a lot of signs that are concerning me. You’re stumbling. You’re walking a little off.’ She said, ‘I want you off the field,'” Pontbriand told the outlet.

“As we were preparing to get him to the hospital, he arrested,” LaFemina said.

She immediately stepped in to provide lifesaving measures, including CPR. She and some bystanders were able to get him successfully breathing by the time EMS arrived at the scene, the outlet reported.

The ump was transported to a local hospital where he woke up two days after the incident, the outlet reported. He remained hospitalized for 11 days of which LaFemina would visit him frequently.

Pontbriand showed Boston25 on Tuesday that he got a tattoo in honor of the woman who saved his life. The tattoo shows a baseball with wings adorned with the words, “Dr. JL, My Guardian Angel.”

“I wouldn’t be here talking to you if it wasn’t for [Jennifer],” Pontbriand told the outlet.

“This is my family now. Until my last breath, we’re going to be family,” he reportedly said.

Worcester WooSox honored the pair Tuesday night and gave them the opportunity to throw out the first pitch, Boston25 reported.