Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s quick reactions played a key role in getting medical help to defensive end B.J. Thompson, who suffered a seizure and cardiac arrest during a team meeting.
The team canceled practice and meetings on Thursday after Thompson collapsed during a morning meeting. The 25-year-old suffered a seizure, went into cardiac arrest and remained unconscious through Friday afternoon. He was treated by team medical staff and then transported to a hospital, where he was in stable condition and woke up Friday afternoon.
Kansas City Chiefs player B.J. Thompson (No. 53) charges the edge during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on January 7, 2024. (Rick Tapia/Getty Images)
Head trainer Rick Burkholder now reports that Harrison Butker was the first to run out of the conference room to find the team’s medical assistants and bring them to Thompson’s side to help stabilize him before city paramedics arrived on the scene.
“We were in a meeting,” Burkholder told reporters at the team’s press conference today, “and he went into cardiac arrest.”
Burkholder added that the team has repeatedly practiced in preparation for medical emergencies, including one on Monday, but noted that it was Harrison Buchter who acted quickly to get Thompson the treatment he needed.
“When B.J. had the seizure, Butker immediately ran to the training room and grabbed Julie Freimeier and David Glover, then grabbed me.” They entered the room and began administering a defibrillator and other life-saving measures in an attempt to stabilize Thompson’s condition.
#Chiefs Head trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters that after B.J. Thompson suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest on Thursday, Harrison Butker ran to the weight room to get a trainer.
Thompson was taken off sedation this morning. He is alert, awake and recovering… pic.twitter.com/cZ2wSbONHi
— Ali Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 7, 2024
Burkholder said Thompson suffered a seizure, dropped to the floor and then went into cardiac arrest. He remained there for just a minute or a minute and a half before medical teams on the scene were able to revive him. Around that time, the Kansas City Fire Department arrived and rushed Thompson to the hospital.
The Chiefs trainer added that Thompson was heavily sedated and in an induced coma overnight, but was conscious by Friday afternoon and “absolutely heading in the right direction.”
Butker’s heroism will not go down well with those who have stoked hatred against the player who boldly stated his support for traditional Christian values in his college commencement speech last month.
Many commented on social media that haters would be furious that it was Butker who took decisive action to get Thompson the potentially life-saving treatment she needed.
Butter haters won’t like this.
— Tamar Bates-Barner (@JimmoothyS) June 7, 2024
Great job by Harrison Butker
— The Last Take™ (@TheRealLastTake) June 7, 2024
God bless Harrison. Praying for BJ.
— Good Life Broncos Fan (@Broncocountry81) June 7, 2024
Harrison Butker saved a man’s life and the media is silent
— Whereismyhat (@Wheresmyhatgrok) June 7, 2024
And does the media want me to hate this man because he said women would be happiest if they were to become mothers?
— Hesh (@HeshComps) June 7, 2024
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