A 51-year-old basketball referee, thus far known only as  “Don,” is recuperating in a hospital after suffering a heart attack Tuesday at a game between the junior varsity girls of Wayland and Cedar Springs.

Wayland High School resource officer Jon Schaefer and several other people in the gym quickly worked on the ref and helped him regain consciousness.

“Don” will need bypass surgery in the next few days. However, friends and relatives hailed the actions of Schaefer and others and added, “without the quick actions of so many, he wouldn’t be here. He and his family are incredibly grateful for everyone who made this possible.”

“Don” collapsed on the floor with a heart attack. Schaefer happened to be in the stands because his grandaughter, Dacey Schaefer, is one of the Wildcat jayvee players. He performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on the ailing ref and and they used a defibrillator twice on him to get him to come to.

He then was awake and talking when the ambulance arrived to take him to a hospital.

Schaefer also is a member of the Dorr Township Fire Department, which today is singing his praises.

“Firefighter Jon Schaefer played a critical role in saving the life of MHSAA basketball referee in Cedar Springs,” a department spokesperson said. “Jon was in attendance of the game when the referee collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Jon, a trained CPR instructor, with the help of others, sprung into action immediately, and started CPR with an AED.

“Due to the heroic actions of all involved, the referee is currently in the hospital recovering.

“All of us at DTFD are extremely proud of Jon and commend him for his actions. We are proud to call Jon one of Dorr’s bravest.”