Long Island basketball player alive after collapsing thanks to CPR-trained coaches
A high school basketball player on Long Island is alive because of his coaches quick-thinking and life-saving training after he collapsed after practice on Tuesday.
They say practice makes perfect, but at no time was that more critical than this week at Chaminade High School in Mineola.
“You don’t have to have all the answers, but you have to have just an idea of what you’re doing,” Chaminade Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach Bob Paul said.
Coaches and staff put their emergency CPR training to use immediately when their worst fears suddenly became reality.
Varsity player, 17-year-old P.J. Kellachan had just walked away from a drill when he suddenly collapsed, had a seizure and slipped into cardiac arrest.
“I remember being on the court, I don’t remember coming off,” Kellachan said.
But the others sure do.