York Coach Saves Student-Athlete's Life: Official

ELMHURST, IL – A York High School coach is credited with saving a student-athlete's life last month at a track meet.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Mayor Scott Levin read a letter from Rob Wagner, York's assistant principal for athletics. Wagner thanked the Elmhurst Fire Department for giving CPR training to the school's coaches.

On April 12, a York triple jumper completed a jump, landed in the sandpit, got up and then collapsed for no reason, Wagner said in the letter. It was at a large outdoor track meet at Downers Grove North High School.

A York assistant track coach then gave CPR chest compressions to the girl, who was unresponsive and not breathing, the letter said. (York later identified the coach as Nicholas Karavolos.)

A Downers Grove North parent working at the event called 911, and an athletic trainer was on hand with an automated external defibrillator, or AED.

In a few minutes, medics showed up and took the student to a nearby hospital, where she was put on a ventilator and remained unconscious, Wagner said.

Doctors performed numerous tests on the girl's heart and brain, but did not find the cause, according to the letter.

The good news was that the girl was expected to leave the hospital and go back to school, Wagner said. The letter was written a couple of weeks ago.

"Our coach did exactly what he was supposed to do in an emergency situation," Wagner said in the letter. "Everyone from the EMTs to the doctor said the early CPR saved her life. I greatly appreciate your helping our coaching staff get trained."