By Leila Merrill
NEW YORK — In an interview with CNN this week, ParaDocs CEO said staff members worked hard to save lives at the deadly Astroworld music festival earlier this month.
The private EMS company was hired by Astroworld organizers, who are being sued along with performers Travis Scott and Drake, show promoters and private security, KXAN reported.
Ten people died from injuries sustained at the festival, including a 9-year-old Dallas boy, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Pollak said his staff treated 11 people at the festival for cardiac arrest at the same time. He called it an “impossible feat.”
“This is something I’ll have nightmares about for the rest of my life,” said Pollak, who was working at the concert. “The team is extremely broken up about it. Seeing so many young people getting CPR at one time, it’s just something no one should have to go through. Even though we’re medical professionals, we should be used it. You can’t get used to something like that.”
Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña has said that firefighters outside the venue, NRG Park, were not in radio communication with ParaDocs. Patrick M. “Marty” Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, said fire department officials had asked the concert organizers for a radio to communicate with ParaDocs but were only provided with cell numbers.
Pollak said ParaDocs staffers used radios that concert organizers provided them.
The CEO also said that ParaDocs was not able to stop the show. Pollak said that stopping sooner might have helped save lives but an abrupt stop also could have made the chaotic situation worse.
A ParaDocs crew of more than 70 was on hand for the multiday outdoor festival that drew an estimated 50,000 concertgoers.
An EMT contracted by ParaDocs, Remington Richardson, described his experience that night in a series of TikTok posts.