Saturday, November 08, 2008
By Tommy Witherspoon
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Fast action by some cool-headed courthouse employees Friday morning may have saved the life of a popular Waco attorney.
Michael B. Roberts, who apparently was running late, was seen scurrying across Washington Avenue toward the McLennan County Courthouse early Friday. Seated in 54th State District Court for routine pretrial docket call, Roberts began experiencing difficulty breathing and suffered an apparent heart attack as Judge Matt Johnson was calling a list of defendants.
Johnson singled out the calm responses of Assistant District Attorney Wayne Coughran, 19th State District Court assistant court coordinator Ellen Watson and the team of courthouse deputies for jumping in and helping the 60-year-old Roberts before fire department first responders and ambulance service paramedics arrived to take over.
Coughran and Watson, who both have previous emergency medical training, started CPR on Roberts, whom Watson said was not breathing and did not have a pulse when they began.
“We knew we had to do something for him,” said Coughran, who like most of the 50 or so people in the courtroom at the time, appeared shaken and somber afterward.
Watson said she learned emergency training after her son was hit by a car when he was 4.
She said she felt so helpless then that she took a course so she would be better prepared in emergency situations.
Courthouse deputies Sgt. Jimmie Channon, Jack Campbell and Donald Taylor rushed a defibrillator from their first-floor office to the third-floor courtroom as Sheriff’s Office investigator James Pack, a former ambulance company paramedic, rushed over from the courthouse annex to help.
The deputies shocked Roberts with the defibrillator about 10 times and then turned over his care to paramedics as Larry Courtney, a courthouse deputy and Baptist minister, led a group that included Roberts’ wife, Wanda, in a prayer.
Roberts was rushed to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition Friday afternoon. Later Friday night, hospital officials said Roberts was still in critical condition.
twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
757-5737
Comments
By null
Nov 19, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
you know it took more than just the courtroom staff. so how about a thank you it the ems and waco fd
By Yolie
Nov 10, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
My prayers are with all of you. Bethany and Troy I know you have a lot of faith to keep you going.
Love Yolie
By David E Knox MD
Nov 9, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
Wanda,
Please call me when you get a chance.
I was was with you and Mike in Plano, Texas
By the dew
Nov 9, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Attorney Roberts was covered by the man above, thank goodness there was a man of God for the ones in need of prayer. President Elect Barak H. Obama was, is, and always will be under that same cover. So why stress! I think we went through the past 8 years to get to a better day and realize no matter how bad it is it can get worse. So as a family always say "ride with the tide, but don't forget who controls the waves.
By Vernon Roberts
Nov 9, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
I want to thank all those who helped save my brothers life. If it was not for your quick response he wouldn't have made it. My brother still has much to do in this world and without all of you taking care of him we would be alone without his service. I want you to know that we as a family love all of you and will never forget what you did for him.
God bless all of you,
Vernon,
By Harvard Reynolds
Nov 9, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
Heart Defibrillators Available at Discount
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Specializing in providing AED's to communities, businesses, schools and churches, LifeGuard Medical Solutions was formed as a champion of heart safety in response to the sudden cardiac arrest death of the founder's father in 1999. Their mission is to raise the public awareness of heart disease and "To Help Save Lives".
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Harvard Reynolds
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Website: www.AEDSupplyStore.com
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Toll-Free Phone: (866) 932-2331
By Ruth
Nov 8, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
It's a blessing to know that there are still good people in the world. May God bless those who were there to help the attorney when he needed them the most.
It just goes to show that everyone needs to take a CPR course for situations such as this.
Once again, May God Bless you.
By THEFIREMAN
Nov 8, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
praise God they got him back- HE MUST STILL BE EXCITED ABOUT BARACK OBAMA BECOMING THE PRESIDENT .
I know several hearts were pounding on election night, and no telling how many strokes and heart attacks happened on election night.
I remember the stress got so bad with me, I had to turn the TV off, and walk around and deep breath. My jaw got tight, my chest constricted, I was hurting everywhere..........
Mike roberts just came down from that election high, and his heart just showed it-
I'm glad he is alright.......
He is my attorney.......
By McLennan
Nov 8, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
Great job to the Courthouse staff!!
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