From Sudden Cardiac Arrest to Saving Lives: Connor Shaw Launches Heart Huddle in Simpsonville

Just four months ago, a typical Wednesday night at Gracely Park nearly turned tragic when former University of South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw collapsed while coaching his son’s flag football team. Today, Shaw is returning to that same community with a new mission: ensuring that every local athlete has a fighting chance at survival.

On January 29, 2026, details emerged regarding a major partnership between Shaw’s new nonprofit, HRTHUDL, and the Simpsonville Parks and Recreation Department. The initiative aims to close the safety gap on local athletic fields by providing the very tools that saved Shaw’s life last September.

A Second Chance Miracle

The events of September 17, 2025, are now well-known across the Upstate. Shaw, 34, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest just fifteen minutes into the game. In a stroke of luck, off-duty firefighter Caleb Carter and police officer Zach Moore were at the field and immediately began high-quality CPR.

Shaw later noted that if he had been on a different field that day—one without access to an AED—the outcome would have been very different. An Automated External Defibrillator was used to deliver three shocks, the last of which restored his heart’s rhythm before he was rushed to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital.

The Simpsonville Safety Initiative

The partnership with Simpsonville is the first major local rollout for HRTHUDL. Key components of the program include:

• Five New AEDs: Installation of state-of-the-art devices at Simpsonville’s busiest recreational hubs, including Heritage Park and Gracely Park.

• Coach Certification: Mandatory CPR and AED training for all youth league coaches within the Simpsonville Parks and Rec system.

• Police Equipment: A long-term goal to equip all Simpsonville police patrol cars with portable AEDs, ensuring first responders have the tools on hand the moment they arrive.

A Basic Life Skill

For Shaw, the goal is to make CPR training as common as a pre-game huddle. He believes the training should be considered a basic life skill so that people are prepared in those critical moments.

The nonprofit is already garnering massive support from the football community, with a kickoff event recently held during the USC-Clemson game. Shaw is now working directly with Lt. Caleb Carter—the man who performed the life-saving CPR on him—to identify other blind spots in local parks where equipment is missing.

As Simpsonville families head out to the fields this spring, they will do so with an extra layer of protection, thanks to a local hero who is turning his scariest moment into the community’s safest.

Local Resources & Action Guide

Upcoming Community CPR Training

While Simpsonville Parks and Rec is currently finalizing mandatory training for the 2026 Spring coaches, residents can sign up for these nearby sessions to be prepared:

Ways to Support HRTHUDL

• Champagne 5K (Beneficiary): The upcoming Champagne 5K at Bridgeway Station has officially named HRTHUDL as its 2026 beneficiary. Register to run or walk to support the placement of more AEDs.

• Apply for an AED: Local youth organizations or schools can apply for an AED through the official hrthudl.org website.

• Matching Gifts: Molina Healthcare is currently matching fundraising efforts, meaning every dollar donated helps twice as many athletes.