New York Mets fans are trying to get Rusty Staub back home after he suffered a heart attack while abroad
New York Mets legend and New York humanitarian Rusty Staub was traveling home from Ireland earlier this week when he suffered a heart attack mid-air. Luckily, two doctors on board were able to revive and keep him stable until the plane returned back to Ireland so Staub could undergo emergency surgery. Now his friends and Mets fans are trying to get him back home.
The issue is that, because of how long the flight from Ireland to New York is, Staub will need a medical plane to make the journey. Medical planes aren’t cheap, costing somewhere around $60,000 for Staub to make his trip across the Atlantic to get home. To help absorb the cost, one of Staub’s friends is asking for Mets fans to help get the legend home by way of a GoFundMe campaign.
A man named Stephen Marro, who says he’s a personal friend of the Staub family, started the page on Friday with the goal to raise the full $60,000 to pay for the medical plane. As of Saturday morning, the campaign has raised just under $3,000 to get the “Miracle Met” home.
Staub had a 23-year career in Major League Baseball. However, his tenure with the Mets from 1972-75 and at the end of his career from 1981-85 are some of most memorable moments. That includes his tremendous efforts in the 1973 World Series against the Oakland Athletics, despite playing through a major injury.
Since his retirement, Staub has been active in terms of raising money for his charitable organizations in the New York area, most notably the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund. It’s no wonder Mets fans and the city of New York have a place in their hearts for the former baseball star.
**UPDATE**
The Mets have released a statement that fans respect Staub’s privacy while he recovers.
#Mets statement on Rusty Staub medical emergency ... pic.twitter.com/DSDemJQwk9
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinMedia) October 3, 2015
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