A PIAA football referee from Tamaqua who collapsed on the gridiron at Pleasant Valley High School on Friday night, is thankful today for a quick response by several emergency personnel who, he said, saved his life.

Steve Milkovits, 45, was escorting the Pocono Mountain East football team to its lockers at halftime of the game when he collapsed. The next thing he knew, he was in the St. Luke’s Hospital, Monroe Campus, Bartonsville, where he underwent a series of tests before his discharge on Tuesday.

“I was jogging off the field with the Pocono Mountain team when I dropped over,” he said, adding he doesn’t remember having any chest pains or other issues that would have prompted the collapse.

He continued, “I only have minimal details, but the athletic director told my mom (Diane Rute) I was down for a minute or more, unresponsive and without a pulse until someone started CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation.) I’m told they used an AED (automated external defibrillator) on me. I have yet to confirm all of the details, but I want to, because I certainly want to thank those who helped save my life.”

Milkovits, in his second year of a refereeing career that was temporarily on hold because his son, Aidan, was an All-Star football player for four years for the Marian Colts prior to his graduation last year, spent three days at the St. Luke’s campus, during which time he had an echocardiogram that confirmed a pre-existing heart condition and a catheterization that showed no blockages but a failing aortic valve. He was discharged last night but will be visiting a surgeon in the near future to discuss a valve replacement surgery.

“I’m lucky to be on this side of the ground, and extremely thankful for the people who put the CPR plan into action because they saved my life,” said Milkovits, captain of investigations for the Allentown Police Department.

“I want to publicly thank the people who did what they did, but, just as important, I want to draw attention to the importance of people being CPR trained, and the importance of having AEDs available in our schools and especially at sporting events.”

He added, “When you think of Friday night football, there are trainers, doctors and personnel there for the 22 players on the field, but you never know when someone else there might need this kind of help. Here I was escorting a team off the field and the next thing I know I was down on the ground.”

Milkovits said he will try to identify the people who came to his aid, noting he was told the Pleasant Valley team doctor was on hand.

“There were quite a few people who helped (me). I am thankful for them that I am on this side of the ground. They jumped into action and saved my life. Things could have been completely different.”

Milkovits stressed, “It’s important to educate people on the importance of basic CPR. That’s really the message I want to get out there.”