Mizzou fan encourages CPR training after helping save ESPN anchor’s life
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — A Lee’s Summit man and Mizzou dad is being credited with saving an ESPN broadcaster’s life. The man who some are calling a hero told FOX4 that football was the furthest thing from his mind when he jumped into action in Columbia last weekend.
Jack Foster stressed the importance of CPR and safety training after saving a man’s life when he was choking on food.
“You’re just focused on trying to do what you’re taught, to do what you’re trained to do,” Foster said, “There was a lot of relief once I felt him breathe.”
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Foster is the man who saved none other than ESPN Anchor Peter Burns.
The great save happened Friday night. Foster said it was family weekend at Mizzou where he and his wife went to visit his son at school.
They were set to eat at a different restaurant, but they pulled an audible, and ended up at Bud’s BBQ.
His family spotted Burns and the ESPN crew, and a short time later, a commotion.
“I heard the bar stools screeching and kind of moving around on the concrete floor,” he recalled.
Foster’s wife said, “That man’s choking.”
Foster said he and three other people ran to help Burns, including Burns’ friend, another stranger, and a nurse.
More than two minutes in, Foster was able to dislodge the food using the Heimlich maneuver on Burns.
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Burns shared a photo and his perspective online Monday, saying in part, “This man saved my life… immediately I knew it was serious and motioned to our table that I couldn’t breathe.”
Burns also said he started losing consciousness right before Foster gave him the Heimlich.
“I’m not a hero; I just did what I think everybody would’ve done. I think the heroes were everybody who tried before me,” Foster said.
“I try to do what other people would do and always live by the rule – try to set an example for my boys and try to help when you can and just hoping that somebody will be there for my kids if they ever need it and I’m not there.”
Foster said his kids and coaching youth sports are the reasons he started taking CPR and safety training. Now, he stays certified.
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Foster encourages others to do the same because you never know when you’ll get called to save a life.
“I’m just glad,” Foster said, “I get emotional because I hear him going home and going to lunch with his kids and seeing his family and that’s the relief that you get.”
Burns also gave a shoutout to the Mizzou football trainers. He has slight fractures in four ribs and is on the road to recovery.
Since this happened, Foster said he’s been texting with Burns nearly every day.
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