Principal Is Honored as Superhero for Performing CPR on Breathless Student and Saving Him

When a young student had trouble breathing and fell unconscious on the floor, many staff members from his school rushed to help, including the principal. They immediately called 911 and noticed his weak pulse; fortunately, the principal saved the day with his quick and decisive actions.

Life is a precious gift with a one-time ticket that should never be taken for granted. Anything can happen at any given moment—sometimes, we’re presented with opportunities to extend a helping hand, while other times, we might be on the receiving end of something heartwarming.

On November 3, 2022, a student named Timothy Johnson was busy with basketball practice when he suddenly began feeling unwell. After seeking permission from his coach, he took a break, hoping it would help him recover.

Timothy Johnson in the gymnasium. | Source: YouTube.com/Inside Edition

The Student Collapsed

After leaving the gymnasium, Johnson went to the school hallway and sat in one corner, struggling to breathe. But instead of feeling better, his condition worsened, and after a few minutes, he lost consciousness and collapsed.

For some time, Sowards struggled with a lack of answers and hoped for his student’s speedy recovery.

When a few staff members passing by the hallway noticed a student lying on the floor, they ran to see what was wrong. Jody Sowards, principal of Huntington East Middle School (HEMS), had just come out of the cafeteria when he saw the student and hurried to check on him.

Principal Jody Sowards runs to help Timothy Johnson lying unconscious on the floor. | Source: YouTube.com/Inside Edition

Administering CPR

When Sowards reached the spot where Johnson lay unconscious, he instructed the staff members to call 911 and did a few quick assessments. Upon checking the eighth-grader’s pulse, the principal became concerned because it was weak and appeared to be fading.

Not knowing how long it would take for the paramedics to arrive at the scene, Sowards said he started administering CPR. It was the first time he had used the life-saving technique in his 25 years of serving in the field of education. Unfortunately, he received little to no response from the teen.

Taken to the Hospital

After some time, the assistant coach told Sowards that he had a pulse, but it was faint. For nearly 15 minutes, the principal continued to resuscitate the unconscious student until EMS arrived.

Even then, Sowards didn’t leave and helped them load Johnson onto the stretcher to take him to the hospital. According to a statement from HEMS, the doctors helped the young man with his breathing issue, but they found that one of his arteries wasn’t pumping enough blood.

A Surprise Visit

Later, Johnson was said to be shifted to a children’s hospital, where he received intensive care and support from the medical staff. Meanwhile, Sowards worried for the student because he didn’t know how long he had been without oxygen and if he would face any long-term side effects.

For some time, Sowards struggled with a lack of answers and hoped for his student’s speedy recovery. More than a week later, Johnson unexpectedly showed up at the school with his mother to visit the man who had saved his life. Sowards recalled:

“He is alive, and that’s the most important thing, and he’s able to function and just, you know, the future can be bright for this young man.”

Awarding the Real-Life Hero

Despite being in recovery and not returning to school, Johnson made an exception for a special ceremony where his rescuer was honored. On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Cabell County Schools awarded Mr. Sowards the Superintendent’s Superhero award for the month.

But that wasn’t all. Sowards also received WSAZ’s Hometown Hero Award for his bravery, courage, and selflessness in saving one of his students. Cabell County Schools shared a touching post on Facebook about the event, and a part of the caption read:

“Mr. Sowards administered CPR to the student as EMS arrived on the scene. Mr. Sowards continued CPR even after EMS arrived and was the main contributing factor for the student’s survival.”

The Principal’s Message

When Sowards was asked what pushed him to help the young man, he replied, “To me, it’s not hero-worthy. I guess it’s just something I’m supposed to do. I was here at the right moment at the right time. God’s got a plan (sic).”

As an educator and principal, Sowards’ message to the youth and people of all ages was short and sweet, “Never hesitate to help someone when you see an opportunity.” We don’t know about you, but these words of wisdom will always resound in our ears.

The Online Community Reacts

When the phenomenal story was shared on social media, it touched the hearts of several netizens who were quick to share messages of love, support, and praise for the selfless principal:

“I’m glad this young boy survived and his family gets to spend Christmas with him..massive RESPECT to the Principal for not stopping CPR..Well done (sic).”

— (@carla.prata.395) December 11, 2022

“Amen what a blessing he was in saving this young man’s life! God is good.”

— (@wanda.dennis.7717) December 11, 2022

“This warms my heart. I encourage everyone to get CPR training.”

— (@dana.smith.7967747) December 12, 2022

“Thank you God always have his Guardian Angels around (sic)..”

— (@100068492937130) December 12, 2022

Thanks to Principal Soward’s life-saving CPR, Johnson will be able to celebrate the holiday season with his loved ones. Please show some love to this devoted rescuer in the comment section on Facebook.

Click here to read another story about an Illinois police officer who performed CPR on a breathless baby in front of his crying mother.