Jim Irsay 911 call reveals congestive heart failure fear: ‘Unresponsive … bluish in color’
Colts owner Jim Irsay was feared to be suffering from congestive heart failure when police were called to his Indiana home on Dec. 8, according to audio of the police call, as released by the Indianapolis Star.
Pete Ward, the Chief Operating Officer of the Colts, called police at 4:31 a.m. while en route to Irsay’s home in Carmel, Ind., according to the report.
“We have a gentleman who is unresponsive,” Ward said on the 911 call. “He is breathing, but is bluish in color and we believe that he may be having congestive heart failure.”
Ward, who described himself as a “longtime employee” during the call, told the operator before arriving that the 64-year-old Irsay was not awake, had “labored” breathing and was “mostly” unconscious but “not completely.”
Once Ward arrived, shortly before help arrived, he clarified that Irsay was breathing.
However, his oxygen saturation level was way below the normal 95-100 percent rate “for most people,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Someone’s snoring. I have his nurse here, his oxygen saturation number is 71,” Ward said. “He is breathing. It’s a snore.”
A separate video released by TMZ revealed that one of the officers summoned to the scene was apparently a Swiftie, as the office blared “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s mega popstar girlfriend, while driving to Irsay’s residence.
The police report labeled the situation as a possible “overdose” and “overdose/poisoning,” according to TMZ, and cops said they found Irsay unresponsive, cold and gasping for air.
The report stated that Irsay was in his bed when the police arrived, but was struggling to breath, had a weak pulse and constricted pupils.
Police unsuccessfully attempted to wake him up with a sternum rub, but Irsay “responded slightly” after one dose of Narcan, which can be used during opiates overdosing.
Paramedics arrived for life-saving efforts and Irsay was transported to a nearby hospital.
“At this time, it is unknown what Mr. Irsay had ingested prior to our arrival,” police wrote in their report, per TMZ.
The police and paramedics were summoned to Irsay’s home roughly one month before before the Colts announced on Jan. 9 that he was being treated for a “severe respiratory illness.”
“Mr. Irsay continues to recover from his respiratory illness,” the Colts said in a statement on Jan. 17. “We will have no further comment on his personal health and we continue to ask that Jim and his family’s privacy be respected.”
Colts general manager Chris Ballard provided a small update at the team’s end-of-season press conference earlier this month, while noting he could not add much.
Irsay was at the Colts’ win over the Steelers on Dec. 16, per the Indianapolis Star.
“No, other than he’s stable and they’re working through it,” Ballard said, according to the outlet.