MURRAY, Utah (ABC 4 News) – It can happen anytime anywhere even to seemingly healthy athletes like 22-year-old Utah State University basketball player Danny Berger. He collapsed on the basketball court during practice Tuesday in full cardiac arrest.Danny’s older brother John told ABC 4 News, “We’re still unsure of the reason for it, as of right now things are looking good.”
The reason why things are looking so good is due to the team’s trainer who jumped in with a defibrillator to start Berger’s heart before paramedics arrived.
Intermountain Medical Center Spokesperson Jess Gomez said, “There’s no probably, he saved his life. They did have a defibrillator on hand and he was in cardiac arrest on the court, so without them he would not be here today.”
When someone goes into cardiac arrest time is of the essence; getting that heart beating again means the difference between life and death.
“Getting them to jump start the heart is absolutely critical,” explained Gomez. “If you don’t do that within a very quick time those patients likely won’t make it.”
Now Danny Berger has a whole team of cardiologists, pulmonologists, and trauma specialists giving him the care he needs, but even they agree it was the quick thinking of the team’s trainer who saved the young basketball player’s life.
John Berger said, “Most of all we thank Mike Williams the Utah State University trainer who was at practice when Danny collapsed. He saved my brother’s life and I thank God for him.”
Danny Berger is still in critical condition in the ICU at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. His family says he has been awake and has been responding to his doctors.
