WESTBROOK – Fast action by the Westbrook School District’s athletic trainer revived a basketball referee, who collapsed on the court during a game at Westbrook High School last Thursday.

On Wednesday morning, Westbrook School Superintendent Marc Gousse said that he had heard the referee was “doing very well.”

Westbrook Athletic Director Marc Sawyer, who would not release the referee’s name, said on Wednesday that he has learned that after a procedure to stabilize his condition, the referee has been released from the hospital.

The incident occurred Nov. 29 during the second quarter of a junior varsity girls’ exhibition basketball game with Falmouth.

Sawyer said Friday athletic trainer Anita Dixon and her staff rushed to aide the referee.

“He wasn’t doing well,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer said Dixon and her staff of four students – two from University of New England and two from University of Southern Maine – raced to the referee’s side and were there within five seconds.

Dixon employed an automated external defibrillator, according to Sawyer, who said she carries the device everywhere. Sawyer said Dixon and her staff brought the referee to a “stable condition.”

“They did a excellent job,” Sawyer said. “Remarkable, they were awesome, professional and spot on.”

The referee was transported to Maine Medical Center by a Westbrook ambulance.

Sawyer said Dixon and her staff followed all protocols. Dixon is a contract trainer at the Westbrook schools from Riverview Physical Therapy. Greg Knapton, director of Riverview, believes Dixon and her staff saved the referee’s life.

Gousse agreed with that assessment.

“All indications are that his life was saved by the actions of the trainer, her staff and that AED,” he said.

Knapton, who was in another function in the school at the time the referee collapsed, said he had heard that the referee had been unconscious after falling. “They shocked him once,” said Knapton, who said the man had regained consciousness when the rescue arrived.

Besides Dixon’s work, Knapton said two members of Dixon’s staff administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the referee while another of Dixon’s staff called dispatch.

The gym was evacuated. Sawyer said fans and players were “extremely supportive.”