Colonia Basketball Player Collapses, Saved by Defibrillator

Edison, NJ - A Colonia High School basketball player collapsed on the court during a freshman game Tuesday afternoon at Edison High School, according to numerous reports. The player, who Woodbridge school officials declined to identify out of respect for the family, collapsed while coming down the court during the second quarter of the game.

But tragedy was averted, when the Edison athletics trainer used an AED (automatic external defibrillator) to save the teen’s life, witnesses said.

Edison trainer Tim Root, Edison gym teacher Mark Blevins, Colonia freshman coach Joe LaSala and Colonia assistant coach Tyler Jackow were all named as critical in saving the teen. Root administered the AED less than a minute after the teen collapsed, according to reports.

The teen was conscious as he was taken out of the gym by EMTs. He was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he is reportedly resting comfortably and undergoing a series of tests.

“You can’t say enough about what those people did. To save a life is something to be proud of. I think the trainer and the staff at Edison and the coaches at Colonia did an awesome job. I can’t thank them enough for their lifesaving actions. It’s a miracle,” Woodbridge Schools Superintendent Robert Zega told MyCentralJersey.com.

All public and private schools are now required by law to have AEDs on hand for athletic events, and it must be able to be retrieved and used within 90 seconds. Janet Zilinski, 11, died of a heart attack following cheerleading practice in 2006 in Warren Township. In 2010, Edison football star Kittim Sherrod collapsed and died during a training run. He had an undiagnosed heart condition.