Harrison Butker 'immediately ran' for BJ Thompson's medical assistance after Chiefs DE's cardiac arrest
During a Kansas City Chiefs' team meeting on Thursday, defensive end BJ Thompson had a seizure and had to be rushed to the hospital. It was a scary moment for the Chiefs as Thompson had gone into cardiac arrest. Although Thompson was unconscious overnight at the hospital, he was in stable condition.
The team had to cancel their Thursday practice. They picked up activities on Friday.
Kansas City Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder spoke about the incident to reporters on Friday. He told them that kicker Harrison Butker was the first person to respond after Thompson suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest.
"When BJ had his seizure, Butker immediately ran towards the training room and grabbed Julie Frymer, David Glover, and then grabbed me," Burkholder told the reporters. "We went into the room and eventually Tiffany Morton and Evan Craft came in."
"With this facility, we have a doctor's office down the hall and as a team we tred to stabalize BJ and put him on the floor whil he was still seizing and then he went into cardiac arrest."
"Our team of that group of people provided CPR for him. He had one AD shock and came back so he was only in cardiac arrest for less than a minute. Our players our security staff, everyone involved, our coachin staff, they were phenomenal in handling the crisis."
"We then turned him over to KC Fire Department and paramedics. He was then taken to KU Hopsital."
BJ Thompson update: Thompson's agent says the defensive end has woken up
BJ Thompson was still in stable condition and unconscious this morning.
On Friday afternoon, his agent, Chris Turnage, notified NFL insider Tom Pelissero that Thompson woke up a day later and was responsive.
Thompson was the team's fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft last season as he was selected 166th overall. In his rookie season, he only appeared in one game against the Los Angeles Chargers, where he recorded two tackles in a 13-12 victory for the Chiefs.
Thompson played college football for Baylor from 2017-2018 before transferring to Stephen F. Austin, playing for the Lumberjacks from 2019-2022.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Rick Burkholder and Sportskeeda.