The heroic EMT who rushed to save a Knicks fan who allegedly overdosed at the team’s show Thursday says the emergency was just what he was made for.
Simone Kelly, 24, of New Jersey told The Post on Friday that she dreams of becoming a psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse and mental health concerns, making her the perfect person to jump into such situations.
Strangers even recognized his talent because of his association, he said – offering to help him get a place at medical school.
“There have been people like, ‘Hey, I know someone who works here,’ or, ‘My husband knows a friend,’ ” Kelly said from her Maplewood home. “People go out of their way to help me.
“That’s all I need personally. With all this attention for something I’ve done in medicine, let’s pass it on to the forums of people who can help me become a doctor!”
Kelly, a full-time student studying neuroscience at Drew University, was watching the Knicks show down the Canyon of Heroes from his seat in a Sanitation Delivery truck when the incident happened.
He and several other people rushed to rescue the man who appeared to be sick and pointed out his shallow breathing to students as signs of an opioid overdose, he said.
Luckily, someone in the crowd had Narcan and threw it to Kelly, who works 60 hours a month as a volunteer EMT.
Incredible video of the rescue captured the ordeal, including the administration of an overdose of medication and Kelly quickly rubbing the man’s chest to check he was unresponsive.
He even had to confront a gunman at one point and hold him, repeatedly trying to kiss him on the face — a strange way of saying thank you that he gets a lot of while volunteering with New Jersey’s South Orange Rescue Squad.
At first she just turned her face away but he was forced to push her when she didn’t give up.
“I’ve had to deal with it more than I would like to in my career,” said Kelly.
“Most of the time, I had to move my hand away or shut down a conversation that wasn’t going the way I wanted it to go in. Or … someone tried to kiss me after I got Narcan.
“I have a shift tonight, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again,” she said.
Despite being upset, Kelly said she did not hold anything against the man who helped her on Thursday.
Instead, he said he hopes the viral video can serve as a learning moment.
“I don’t believe addiction is a choice,” Kelly said, pointing to groups like OnPoint NYC as addiction resources they can turn to.
“That’s where I want your attention. Let’s start having a more comprehensive conversation about drug addiction and abuse.”
