BRADENTON, Fla. — Ernie Withers found it surreal to be back at Pirate City on Thursday, almost two years to the day after he suffered sudden cardiac arrest while watching a workout in the outfield.
This time, Withers was content to stand outside the fences and chat with Dr. Patrick DeMeo and Matt McNamee, the two men who helped save his life. DeMeo, the Pirates’ medical director, performed life-saving CPR on Withers when he collapsed Feb. 21, 2023. McNamee, their minor league athletic training coordinator, rushed to the rescue with an AED.
“It’s an emotional thing. It’s amazing to be here, knowing that it wasn’t for the efforts of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ training staff, Dr. Patrick DeMeo and trainer Matt McNamee,” Withers told TribLive. “It’s amazing to be here, it really is.”
After recovering, Withers founded the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation, which has donated 170 AEDs to first responders, schools and local businesses, with orders for 30 more by April.
“It’s fulfilling. I’m glad to give back to the community,” Withers said. “It’s given me a purpose in life to give back.”
Withers thanked Pirates Charities and club chairman Bob Nutting for their contributions to his foundation and for Pirates manager Derek Shelton for welcoming him back to the baseball fields.
“I was so appreciative that Derek Shelton came up to me and said how they share the story of what happened and what could have been,” Withers said. “It’s just amazing, it really is. It’s overwhelming.”