Forward planning and teamwork save an NCISL players life

Excellent emergency planning and teamwork came together last night to save an NCISL player his life after he went into cardiac arrest while playing soccer at the Richcraft Recreation Complex in Kanata.

The player collapsed on the side of the field after a substitution and immediately stopped breathing.

One of the player’s team mates started Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) before the NCISL staff arrived with the Leagues’ recently purchased Automated External Defibrillator (AED). A shock from the defibrillator was able to restart the player’s heartbeat and he was able to start breathing again.

Shortly after lifeguards and staff from the City of Ottawa arrived to further assist before paramedics could arrive.

The player is now in stable condition in hospital.

“This is a great news story” said NCISL President Tim Baigent. “What could easily have been a tragedy has turned into a good news story thanks to some great planning by our organization and some fantastic teamwork by our players, our staff and the lifeguards and paramedics from the City of Ottawa”

The NCISL purchased the defibrillator for the start of the 2021 season and it is located at the facility gates with the staff for each game. NCISL staff have been trained on how to use it but players can also watch a training video that is posted on the NCISL website.

“A wonderful feel good story” said Tyler Bennett, Portfolio Manager at the Richcraft Recreation Complex. “I hope this story encourages other sports leagues or associations to purchase and make available AED machines to their clients.”

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