Published March 14, 2025, 7:30 a.m. ET
Joe Gaskin is already bouncing back.
The Long Island high school basketball referee, who went into cardiac arrest while calling a Nassau County Class A final between Floral Park and West Hempstead, is proud to say he will be back on the court for his 38th season next year.
“When my doctor said, ‘Do you have any questions?’ one of the first things I said was, ‘Will I be able to ref again next year?’ ” Gaskin told The Post from his hospital room.
“He said, ‘I don’t see any reason why not.’ ”
Gaskin, a longtime beloved member of the basketball community who followed in the footsteps of his father, isn’t unaware of the full-court press that kept him alive Saturday.
Nurses Tiffany Vargas, Monica Lally and Darlene Sica, along with a doctor, all rushed from the stands to administer CPR while his close friend, Wantagh athletic director Jennifer Keane, quickly prepped an automated external defibrillator (AED) that was used to resuscitate the Franklin Square man.
The ref, who will be coming home in the next few days, has emotionally thanked those who saved him and is planning to advocate for keeping AED devices at sporting events.
“I had angels in the stands that day.”
She can finally catch her breath.
