Hillsborough Rescuers Honored For Saving Teen Basketball Player's Life

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Three Hillsborough Police Officers and four bystanders were honored on Monday night for their fast response in saving a 15-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing basketball in the township on Jan. 7.

Hillsborough Police Officers Rick Tichenor, Dylan Ely, and Tiana Ramos, along with Kathleen Holmlund, Stacey Narula, Cindy Nurse, and Todd Sudol were honored by the Hillsborough Township Board of Education, Mayor Shawn Lipani and Committeemen James Ruh Jr. and John Ciccarelli.

"It's not every day that we get to celebrate a truly singular life-changing event of the life of a member of the community," said Hillsborough BOE President Paul Marini. "They went above and beyond to help save the players' life."

"The officers did an outstanding job. Saving a life is the most rewarding accomplishment that you can do in this profession. I am proud of the job that they did that day and we are all thankful for the positive outcome for this family," said Police Chief Mike McMahon to Patch.

On Saturday, Jan. 7 at around 6 p.m., the Hillsborough Township Police Department went to the Auten Road Intermediate School at 281 Auten Road for a report of a 15-year-old boy that fainted while playing basketball, said Hillsborough Police Sgt. Jack Howard. Read More: Teen Without Pulse, Not Breathing Rescued By CPR In Hillsborough

The boy was unresponsive, did not have a pulse, and was not breathing, said Howard.

Narula was in a gym next door to where the boy collapsed attending her daughter's basketball game when she saw someone rushing in to grab the AED mounted on the wall.

"Something inside me said, 'Get up Stace.' I am CPR trained so I ran with them," said Narula.

When she got to the other gym, she saw the St. James School player (Jonathan Maro) on the ground with a coach, his father, and other parents around him.

Rescuers were trying to get a pulse as the teen was gasping. As the AED was getting set up, Narula said she just stepped in, tilted the boy's head back, and began giving rescue breaths along with chest compressions.

"I took two strong rescue breaths and they had the AED ready to go," said Narula.

Only one shock with the AED was needed before an officer took over with the oxygen tank. His pulse came back but he wasn't conscious, said Narula.

"After I saw the police leaving with him and EMTs in the ambulance, my knees kind of buckled and I said, 'Oh thank you God.' As a mother, I just thought in the back of my mind, what if it had been my son or daughter… I would hope in that instance, if I was unable or incapable, someone else would be able to do what I was able to," said Narula.

"My efforts, the efforts of the coaches, the other gentlemen, and the officers - it was a collective effort. We were all so fast acting," said Narula.

Narula said she sat with Jonathan Maro's mother on Sunday and "spent two and a half hours hugging, crying. He is on the road to recovery. I am grateful we were all there."

His school Saint James in Basking Ridge sported shirts with his initals and basketball number at a recent game.

Board member Cindy Nurse was also honored. She said she has worked as a lifeguard since she was 15 years old but "never had to respond like we did."

Todd Sudol said it was a "total team effort. He was lucky the right individuals were in the right place."

"We collectively saved this young man's life. I am forever humbled, blessed," said Narula.

Mayor Lipani said the township is working with Robert Wood Johnson to host a CPR and Emergency Services class to help teach the community how to respond in an emergency.

"You never know if you might be the person there," said Lipani of an emergency.

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