He may play a villain on reality TV, but Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio did his best to be a hero in real life.
The MTV star reportedly was at the scene of the tragic incident involving NFL legend John Elway and his longtime agent and friend Jeff Sperbeck last weekend in La Quinta, Calif.
Devenanzio, 42, was a passenger on the golf cart being driven by Elway when Sperbeck fell off the vehicle and suffered a severe head injury.
According to the U.S. Sun, the reality TV star is a friend of Elway’s son and had been partying with the group at the Stagecoach music festival in nearby Indio.
“Johnny and the agent were both standing where the golf bags normally go,” an insider told the outlet. “So many people ride this way every day.”
According to reports, Elway was driving the golf cart, with his wife was seated next to him, when the incident occurred.
“Jeff just fell backward off the golf cart. He fell in a really bad way, and there was just a lot of blood,” the insider said.
Devenanzio attempted to help by dealing with the blood and holding Sperbeck until medical help arrived.
“Johnny was the one helping, dealing with the blood. He was holding Jeff’s head, trying to stop the bleeding,” the insider said.
“He was doing his best to comfort Jeff while they waited for the ambulance to arrive.”
Sperbeck, 62, died early Wednesday as a result of his injuries.
The insider also said there was no indication of wrongdoing and it seemed like it was just a freak accident.
“They weren’t even driving erratically, or speeding, Jeff just fell off balance,” the person said, adding that the road they were driving on was smooth, without bumps or potholes.
The U.S. Sun said they had reached out to Devenanzio and his rep for comment.
The reality star, who is one of the most successful competitors in the history of MTV’s The Challenge and also has appeared on The Traitors and House of Villains, posted a carousel of pics from the music festival on his Instagram account.
According to reports, Elway wasn’t drinking at the time of the incident and had been grieving his sister, Lee Ann Elway McCarthy, who died on April 8.
“John was not drinking because his sister just died from pancreatic cancer,” the insider told the U.S. Sun. “This was John’s first weekend of getting back to feeling normal.”
Elway released a statement on Wednesday about his friend’s death, saying that is “devastated and heartbroken.”
“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” Elway said in a statement relayed by NFL reporter Adam Schefter.
“There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me. My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori, his children Carly, Sam and Jackson, and everyone who knew and loved him.
“Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.”