School Nurse and Coach Revive 14-Year-Old After Cardiac Arrest During Basketball Game

A 14-year-old collapsed during basketball practice at Northvale Public School on Tuesday, Jan. 20. His heart stopped. The school nurse and basketball coach jumped in, performing life-saving measures that brought him back.

Northvale police got the 911 call around 4:30 p.m. Officers raced to the gymnasium at 441 Tappan Road, but the teen had already regained consciousness before they arrived.

When police walked through the doors, they found the student awake and alert.

What happened was clear after investigators pieced things together. The student's heart had stopped beating during the game, triggering a medical crisis that demanded instant action. The nurse and coach didn't hesitate — they performed CPR and other emergency procedures right there on the court.

"Their actions and professionalism were nothing short of heroic," the department said in a statement shared to social media, according to Daily Voice.

After stabilizing him, school staff transferred care to Closter Ambulance Corps and Hackensack University Medical Center paramedics. They transported the teen to a hospital where doctors could monitor his condition.

The crisis unfolded during afternoon activities at the school gym. Dispatchers sent police after receiving the frantic 911 call about a juvenile whose heart had stopped.

Speed saved this kid's life. Because the nurse and coach were already there when his heart gave out, they could start treatment within seconds — not minutes.

Authorities haven't said how the teen is doing now. They also haven't released details about what caused his heart to stop or whether he had any underlying health conditions.

Northvale Public School sits in Bergen County, New Jersey, serving kids in the northern part of the state.

Police haven't provided updates since the incident occurred. The department commended school staff for their swift response when every second mattered.