Simone Kelly, a 24-year-old paramedic from New Jersey, became an unlikely viral star after helping save the life of a New York Knicks fan during the team’s championship parade in New York. Kelly said she and others rushed to a man in distress on the street and quickly recognized the shallow breathing and constricted pupils that pointed to an opioid overdose. Someone in the crowd had Narcan and threw it to her, allowing her to treat the man and keep him alive.
Kelly, who works about 60 hours a month as a volunteer paramedic and studies neuroscience at Drew University, said the incident may now help her biggest goal, getting into medical school and eventually becoming an emergency psychiatrist focused on addiction and psychiatric issues. After the video spread online, strangers began approaching her in the street and offering personal connections to help her gain entry to a medical program.
The same video also captured an uncomfortable moment after the man regained consciousness. He stood up, grabbed Kelly, and repeatedly tried to kiss her on the face. Kelly said she first turned away, then pushed him off when he would not stop. She said such behavior is not unusual in her work with the Orange County rescue unit in New Jersey, adding,
