WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
“I remember it like it was yesterday.”
This is the quote I heard again and again when I spoke to several staff and attendees who were at LECOM Field on February 21, 2023. That day, the Pittsburgh Pirates were hosting an event for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. Among the attendees was avid sports fan Ernie Withers, who was in the outfield catching balls for a few players when he suddenly collapsed.
Jeff Podobnik, Pirates Vice President Florida/Dominican Operations, recalls chatting with Ernie just minutes before hearing shouts from the outfield. “Trainer, Trainer, Trainer!” Jeff rushed to the outfield to see Ernie lying on the ground, lifeless.
“Within seconds, Pirates Medical Director, Dr. Patrick DeMeo, was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with no response,” Jeff said. “They immediately radioed for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). What I witnessed in that next minute was a true miracle.”
Pirates Triple-A Medical/Performance Specialist Matt McNamee was on Field Four during batting practice when he heard the radio call for an AED on Field One. He happened to be just a few feet from the nearest splint bag, which also housed one of the AEDs.
“I grabbed the bag and started running towards the centerfield on Field One, where I saw a group of people circling Ernie,” he said. “I was there within 30 seconds of the radio call. Dr. DeMayo was already performing compressions. Instincts just kicked in, and years of training came to fruition.”
Athletic trainer Casey Lee cut Ernie’s T-shirt off as Matt prepared the AED pads for application to Ernie’s chest, and soon they re-established a pulse.
“On a yearly basis, athletic trainers are highlighted across the country for saving countless lives with CPR and AEDs,” Matt said. “I’m grateful for the resources that we have at all our facilities, allowing us to quickly respond to emergency cardiac conditions.”
Manatee Chamber President and CEO Jacki Dezelski says it’s hard to put the emotions of that day into words. “I will never forget the heartbreaking fear of seeing Ernie collapsed on the field, surrounded by medical professionals,” she said, “nor the indescribable relief when they revived him. I had to call his wife, Cindy, to let her know what had happened, but I needed to find the right words to keep her calm since she was driving to the hospital from nearly an hour away. Ernie was lucid enough to speak with me briefly before they put him in the ambulance. I was immensely grateful for those moments.”
Within days of Ernie’s cardiac arrest, Jackie and her team ordered three AEDs for the Manatee Chamber offices. “We see so many people at our two offices and our offsite events,” she said. “If there is a cardiac emergency at a Chamber meeting or event, we want to have an AED available to help. We also offered hands-on CPR and AED training for our staff. Ernie is part of our family, and we want to help him make an even bigger difference to save lives. He’s so inspiring!”
Being born in Youngstown, Ohio, meant most of Ernie’s family were already Pittsburgh Pirates fans. But now, they’re more than fans—they’re deeply grateful. Grateful to the doctors, the staff, and the players whose swift, lifesaving actions at LECOM Field made all the difference that day.
From Survivor to Advocate
That sense of gratitude runs even deeper when Ernie thinks about the life he’s built and the people who share it with him, especially his wife, Cindy. Ernie met her in 1974 at the University of South Florida. They got married shortly after, and later this year, they’ll be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. With three children, nine grandchildren, and 42 years in the automobile business, Ernie decided it was time to retire and spend more time with his family.
“Cindy was adamant that I shouldn’t retire,” Ernie said. “She told me every time she hears about a man my age retiring, they’re dead within six months. Well, I was determined that wasn’t going to happen to me. I retired, started walking five miles a day, played golf in a league four days a week, and had no stress. I was in the best shape I’d been in for years… and seven weeks later, I had my cardiac arrest.”
Just one week later, Ernie was back at LECOM Field to throw out the first pitch. Grateful that his cardiac episode happened in a place where AEDs were readily accessible, he began thinking of ways to turn his experience into something positive. He wanted to provide lifesaving equipment and training to more facilities so that others would have a fighting chance.
That’s when Ernie reached out to several trusted friends who helped guide him in starting the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation. The foundation made its first donation in June of that same year.
“I am grateful for the second chance at life I’ve been given, and I want to make sure others have that same opportunity,” said Ernie. “I believe that making CPR training accessible and placing AEDs in public spaces can save lives, and that’s why I started this foundation. Of course, we hope it never has to be used, but I look forward to the day I get the call that one of our AEDs has saved a life.”
To date, the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation has donated more than 217 AEDs to nonprofit organizations across the surrounding communities. In addition, the foundation has provided 30 AED simulators and 30 CPR mannequins and has certified over 200 people in CPR.
Manatee County Fair Manager Danny Alfonso, Palmetto Mayor Dan West, and former Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant were among those recently trained on the AEDs delivered by Ernie to the Manatee County Fairgrounds.
“We are so grateful to have these five lifesaving devices throughout the fairgrounds,” said Danny. “We host many large events here each year, and this donation allows us to provide immediate care to everyone who visits.”
Ruth Landes, CEO of Landes Emergency Training Services (L.E.T.S.), first met Ernie at a Manatee Chamber event. His story struck a chord.
“When my husband and I heard how Ernie survived a sudden cardiac arrest, we knew we wanted to partner with him,” Ruth said. “We wanted to help share his story and raise awareness about the importance of CPR and using an AED.”
Through that partnership, both Ernie and his wife Cindy became CPR-certified. But Ernie took it a step further.
“He became an AHA CPR Instructor, so he could teach others in the community how to help save lives,” Ruth explained. “We offer instructor courses and classes for anyone who wants to learn CPR, so it was a natural fit. Since then, we’ve co-taught several classes, and Ernie has led many on his own.”
She added that Ernie’s foundation has amplified their impact by combining education with greater public access to AEDs.
“The importance of public access to AEDs is huge,” Ruth said. “They significantly increase the chances of survival during cardiac emergencies. Bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates, and the immediate use of an AED boosts those chances even more.”
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen at any time, she emphasized. Quick access to an AED can restore a normal heart rhythm before paramedics arrive, and CPR training ensures more people are prepared to respond.
“Our motto has always been ‘L.E.T.S. Save Lives Together,'” Ruth said. “Ernie is doing exactly that with his story and his foundation.”
Get Involved
The Defibrillate Manatee Foundation is currently accepting tax-deductible donations through Manateecf.org. Every dollar raised goes toward purchasing AEDs that are then donated at no cost to nonprofit organizations. Ernie hopes to expand the foundation’s reach and support even more groups throughout Manatee County.
- To learn more about the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation or to get involved, visit defibmanatee.org. You can also contact Ernie Withers directly at 6816 36th Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208, by email at EW4411@aol.com, or by phone at (941) 809-4564.
