We’re likely to hear many stories of courage interspersed with the horrific events at Pulse as details continue to crystalize. Joshua McGill was there that night, and his acts of service in the face of true terror are not going unnoticed.
The 26-year-old nursing student shared his story via Facebook the night of the attack, explaining how he escaped the nightclub and was hiding under an SUV when he crossed paths with a man who had been shot — Rodney.
Jumping into action, McGill assessed Rodney’s wounds, finding two gunshots. McGill took off his shirt and used Rodney’s shirt to tie tourniquets, and together they darted to safety.
They found a police officer, who rushed Rodney to the hospital given the severity of his wounds.
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“While we were in the car, the police officer was telling me to keep him conscious by asking him questions, and applying pressure,” McGill told CBS and NBC in phone interviews. By the time they reached the hospital, McGill was covered in Rodney’s blood. He watched Rodney be wheeled into the hospital, and was left to begin to grapple with the unimaginable events of the night.
McGill posted the account to Facebook in hopes of getting in touch with Rodney again:
Early Monday morning, he posted this update:
Later he appeared on Facebook Live to express his gratitude for all the support he’s received. In the clip, he says that while people are calling his story an “act of heroism,” he was “just doing what [he] had to do at the time.”
You can watch his comments below:
MacAdvisor
The practice of keeping someone awake and conscious doesn’t have any basis in science. At best, it insures the airway is open and can help with a neurological evaluation. However, neither of the two very helpful people here needed to perform an assessment and one can see the person breathing without keeping the conscious.
Jaroslaw
I mostly agree that “keeping someone talking” has no basis in science; on the other hand, it does help the untrained (or distraught – the nursing student was traumatized too) to know definitively if the victim is still conscious without trying to observe breathing alone.
Hudson_2406
What a traumatic and horrible experience. If only Joshua McGill had Mr. Know It ALL – MacAdvisor – there to tell him that what he was doing had no basis in science, because that would have been very helpful. Unbelievable. That someone actually thought it was a GOOD idea to read this inspiring story and then CRITICIZE the action that was taken is mind boggling. And that you would read his story and the only damn thing that sticks with you is that he said he tried to keep him awake? What the hell is wrong with you? Are people insane? Does nobody have any self control, any self awareness anymore? Tell me, MacAdvisor, who do you think gives a rats ass what you think about neurological friggin’ evaluations. I’ll tell you who – NOBODY. Unfu***ing believable. As Hillary would say – Delete your account.
Curtispsf
@Hudson_2406: I agree with your comment 1000%.
Mykaels
@Hudson_2406: THIS! My god someone needs a nap and a snickers.
As for Joshua, you are amazing. Cry, be sad, be angry. You own that right. And yes you are hero
Hermes
@Hudson_2406: I agree actually.
Tackle
@Hudson_2406: I totally agree with you also. I’m stunned that someone would come on here and write, “doesn’t have any basis in science, and neither of the two are very helpful”. Gasp!! What an ASS! Joshua did the best that he could do, and what he was told to do, under those circumstances. And at least Rodney is still alive, so something was done right. Amazing that someone can come on , critique and find fault with someone who is trying to save a life…
jdmorgan
Josh was on his back in the rear seat of a police cruiser, with Rodney on top of him, in a bear hug, while he applied pressure to the gunshot wound on his back, and minded the tourniquets on each arm, trying to keep Rodney from bleeding out. I doubt he could SEE much at all. At the very least Rodney’s ability to remain conscious would help assess his condition, as they both lay there traumatized and covered in blood. In any case, he did what he was instructed to do.
Your omniscience must be a terrible burden to bear in this life. My sympathy to you.
zoomlens
Cheers to Joshua and @Hudson. And an aside to MacAdvisor — you are completely wrong. It’s important to keep the patient conscious to protect the airway. An unconscious person loses certain autonomic responses such as throat clearing and coughing. Those functions are imperative to keeping the airway open. It’s not a matter of monitoring to see if the patient is breathing — its a matter of keeping the patient’s airway open so he or she can breathe.
PTmike
@Hudson_2406: Good thing we have Macadvisor to assess the situation from the comfort of his home. Comments like that make me sad that there are many people who are so disconnected that they lack the capacity to understand what actually happens in real life situation and are all too happy to shit on the heroic efforts of others. Way to go Joshua!
DMRX
@MacAdvisor: “At best, it insures [sic] the airway is open and can help with a neurological evaluation”
Sounds like to me that that’s a pretty good reason to keep someone conscious.
What an a-hole you are for diminishing JM’s selfless act of love for a stranger.