Kansas City Chiefs’ BJ Thompson Awake After Going Into Cardiac Arrest During Team Meeting

BJ Thompson, a defensive finish with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, is “awake and alert” after struggling a seizure and going into cardiac arrest throughout a staff assembly on June 6, Rick Burkholder, the staff’s vice chairman of sports activities drugs and efficiency, informed reporters on June 7.

Throughout a press convention, Burkholder informed reporters that when Thompson, 25, began seizing, teammate Harrison Butker ran to get medical assist.

“As a staff we tried to stabilize BJ after which put him on the ground whereas he was nonetheless seizing. Then he went into cardiac arrest,” Burkholder mentioned. “Our staff of that group of individuals offered CPR for him. He had one AED (automated exterior defibrillator) shock and got here again. So he was solely in cardiac arrest for in all probability lower than a minute, minute and a half.”

Thompson’s agent Chris Turnage additionally informed NBC Information that the participant “is awake and alert proper now.”

Thompson was assisted by the Kansas Metropolis hearth division and paramedics, who took him to the College of Kansas Well being System, the place “he was closely sedated yesterday via the evening,” Burkholder mentioned.

Burkholder shared that Thompson was on a ventilator in a single day “simply so he may breathe as a result of he was so closely sedated” however was introduced out of the sedation on the morning of June 7.

“He’s alert. He’s awake. He’s coming via fairly properly. We don’t have a analysis. In drugs typically you don’t have that,” he continued, including, “Like I mentioned, he’s awake and alert and he’s headed within the absolute proper path. All issues good in just a little little bit of a bushy scenario.”

The staff canceled all offseason coaching actions for June 6 following the episode, based on NFL.com, whereas head coach Andy Reid and choose gamers moved their media session set for June 6 to June 7.

Reid additionally spoke with reporters on June 7, calling Thompson’s incident a “powerful scenario.”

“I’ve been via a few these earlier than in my time and it’s by no means, ever enjoyable,” Reid mentioned. “Thank goodness. I imply, if it needed to occur, no higher place than proper right here the place you might have a help unit that is aware of what to do.”

Thompson, who shall be in his second NFL season in 2024, was chosen within the fifth spherical of the draft in 2023 out of Stephen F. Austin State College in Texas. The England, Arkansas, native is listed as 6-foot-6, 243 kilos. He performed in a single sport final season, recording two tackles within the Chiefs’ Week 18 victory over their AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers.

Chiefs gamers are at the moment participating in a voluntary offseason program, with obligatory minicamp slated to open June 11.

The staff is making ready to go for its unprecedented third consecutive Tremendous Bowl. The staff visited the White Home final week in honor of this previous season’s championship.