Hoosiers Football Player Rescued From Rip Current In Florida
SARASOTA (CBSMiami/AP) - An Indiana University Hoosiers football player was rescued by a friend who said he acted on instinct when the group got caught in a rip current.
Indiana wide receiver Isaac Griffith was pulled from the surf by his friend Mitch McCune. Griffith's fellow wide receiver, Ty Smith, helped pull Griffith to shore and McCune performed CPR on his friend until emergency workers arrived.
Griffith was described as non-responsive when he was pulled out of the water, but the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department reported Griffith's CT scans were normal and a hospital spokeswoman said the signs are positive for Griffith.
The Sheriff's Department said Griffith was drinking in his hotel room when the group, including McCune, Smith, and safety Nick Stoner decided to go swimming. McCune denied the claim they were drinking.
McCune is studying to be an athletic trainer and told the Associated Press he had visited Griffith several times but didn't want to say much about his condition at the request of Griffith's family.
"Pray for his lungs and his little battles and that he will come strong and OK," McCune said. "Just keep thinking positive thoughts."
A statement released by Indiana asked fans to keep Griffith in their thoughts. Griffith played at Homestead High School near Fort Wayne. His father, Shannon Griffith, is football coach at Manchester University in northeastern Indiana.
