Pickleball Hero: Retired First Responder Saves Fellow Player's Life

Pickleball has exploded in popularity, drawing in players of all ages, from the young to the young at heart. Among them is Robyne Gold, a retired ExxonMobil first responder and longtime EMT, who caught the pickleball fever last year.

“I knew it was getting popular and the City of Baytown was offering a beginner’s class at the Baytown Community Center,” she recalled.

Now, at 67, she’s hooked. Not just on the game’s physical challenge, but also for the camaraderie it fosters.

“I’m a pickleball addict. I play four to five times a week,” she admitted with a laugh.

But this week was different. In a moment of crisis, Robyne’s years of emergency response training kicked in, turning an ordinary game into a life-saving mission.

Before retiring in 2013, Robyne worked as a process technician for ExxonMobil and served on the company’s Emergency Response Team. She spent five years as a firefighter and more than 25 years as an EMT.

“We had the best training you could get,” she said.

That training came back in an instant on Wednesday. Robyne was in the middle of a routine match with her partner Mary against opponents Randy and Tom, another ExxonMobil retiree. The game was competitive, ending in a narrow 11-9 victory for Robyne and Mary. Afterward, as players often do, they moved to the edge of the stage to rest and chat before the next round.

Robyne and Randy sat down beside each other, discussing a rematch. Then suddenly, Randy collapsed.

“I saw him lean forward, and as I turned back, I could tell he was unconscious,” Robin recalled. “I immediately jumped off the stage and hollered ‘Call 911!’”

Robyne rushed to Randy’s side, pulled him onto his back, and checked for signs of life. He wasn’t breathing. No pulse.

She began chest compressions while calling out for an automated external defibrillator (AED). Just a month earlier, she and her friend Vince had made it a point to locate the AED at the Community Center, but she never expected she would have to use it.

As luck would have it, Vince was the one who ran to retrieve the AED. In the meantime, she needed help with CPR.

Robyne “I asked if anyone knew CPR and it was silent. However, Tom stepped up and asked how he could help.”

Under Robyne’s guidance, Tom stabilized Randy’s airway. When the AED arrived, they applied the pads while the machine analyzed his condition.

Robyne explained, “The AED said a shock was required, so I made sure no one was touching him and delivered the shock. After about 15-20 seconds, it told me to start CPR again.”

As Robyne resumed compressions, Randy’s eyes flickered and he let out a groan. It was the first sign of life in what felt like forever. Moments later, Baytown Fire Department paramedics arrived, taking over and preparing to transport Randy to the hospital.

As they lifted him onto the stretcher, Randy, affectionately known as ‘Egg Man’ for selling farm-fresh eggs to pickleball players, reminded someone not to forget their eggs that he brought them that day.

“That’s when I started crying,” Robyne admitted. “Just moments ago, this man had no pulse, and now he’s awake, cracking jokes.”

The emotional moment reinforced the importance of knowing CPR and having access to AEDs.

She said, “This was the third time I’ve performed CPR and only the second time it was successful. The odds of bringing someone back with CPR alone are low. Having the AED made all the difference.”

She hopes the experience encourages others to get trained.

“If you ever need to use CPR, chances are it will be on someone you know. I never wanted to be the person who just stood there helpless. Everyone should learn CPR.”

The story has a sunny-side-up ending. Robyne visited Randy in the hospital to check on the man she barely knew beyond the pickleball court.

She said, “I met his wife, daughter, and brother. That’s when I learned he’s a year older than me. We were both born and raised in Baytown, but he went to Lee and I went to Sterling. Our paths just never really crossed before.”

She spoke briefly to Randy, but before leaving she made sure to deliver one last message.

“I told him, ‘Don’t forget. We’ve got a rematch.’ He just laughed,” she said.

Now, they share a connection that extends beyond the court. As for being called a hero, Robyne remains humble.

She said, “I was just fortunate that I was at the right place at the right time and had the skills to help.”

But her sister Joanna disagrees.

Joanna said, “I am very proud of my sister! She is definitely an unsung hero in our hometown.”

After all, it was her instincts, courage, and quick action that made all the difference on that day at the pickleball court. For the Baytown pickleball community, she is more than just a teammate. She’s a lifesaver and a true hero.