An individual officiating a middle school basketball game in Boston reportedly suffered a heart attack and died Friday night.
Don McGillicuddy, a respected referee in the area, suffered a heart attack and collapsed in the remaining seconds of a basketball game he was officiating at Watertown Middle School, according to the Boston Herald. McGillicuddy was reportedly in the process of making a call with 37 seconds left on the clock when the incident happened. School trainers and medical personnel in attendance were able to temporarily revive the referee, the outlet reported.
However, McGillicuddy’s friend and fellow official, John Rafferty, reportedly said he had another heart attack while on the way to Mount Auburn Hospital. Attempts to revive him failed and he was declared deceased, according to the outlet.
Respected and admired high school basketball official Don McGillicuddy collapsed during a tournament game in Watertown on Friday. He suffered a second heart attack en route to Mount Auburn Hospital and was pronounced dead. https://t.co/lDbZA7mcQV
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) March 2, 2024
The boys’ basketball game set to start after the girls’ game was rescheduled for Saturday, according to the Boston Herald. (RELATED: Jalen Brunson Suffers Potentially Devastating Injury Which Would 100% Kill The Knicks’ Dream Season)
The Watertown Public Schools reportedly issued a statement Friday.
“The Watertown Raiders community is deeply saddened by the collapse of a game official in the final seconds of the Watertown-Old Rochester Regional girls basketball game on Friday night. Staff cleared the gym of students and spectators while a Watertown athletic trainer, officers from the Watertown Police Department, and members of the community rendered immediate aid to the official. We are thankful to everyone who provided medical assistance to the official and supported fans in the moments after this incident,” the statement read, the outlet reported.
“We understand that this incident was unsettling for those in attendance. School administrators spoke with students and families in the minutes after the game and counselors will be available for students on Monday. We encourage families to talk with their students about what they saw and how they are feeling, even if they are not showing obvious signs of being upset,” the statement reportedly continued.
Longtime official Don McGillicuddy passes away during state tournament game https://t.co/JF9tOAdTo3
— Danny Ventura (@BostonHeraldHS) March 2, 2024
Friend and former Tyngsboro High athletic director and principal, Larry Kelleher, who spent 3 decades as an MIAA basketball tournament director, spoke with McGillicuddy merely hours before the game, according to the Boston Herald.
“Donnie is a good guy and a very good referee,” Kelleher told the the outlet. “He really loved this time of the year. In fact, we were talking earlier in the day and he was excited about doing the game and was already looking forward to doing another tournament game in the next few days.”
“He’s the best,” Wayne McGillicuddy, Don’s son, currently a Connecticut school’s head football coach, told the Boston Herald. “I wouldn’t be in the position I am in without him. He’s my best friend and my right hand man.”