ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A 15-year-old Rochester student is recovering after he went into cardiac arrest during a game on the basketball court. First responders came to School 33 Wednesday night, but the Rochester City School District is also crediting the faculty at the game.

What You Need To Know

  • A 15-year-old junior varsity basketball player went into cardiac arrest during his game at School No. 33 on Wednesday evening

  • School Safety Officer, Jushawn Rucker, and school athletic trainer, Dave DiPasquale, used an AED to revive the young man

  • Both heroes refer to the event as a miracle the family can be together for another Christmas

  • Superintendent Carmine Peluso says it's one thing to be at the right place at the right time, but it's another thing to have the people who will go towards trouble
  • We're told the boy is in stable condition and remains at the hospital

Wilson Foundation School Safety Officer Jushawn Rucker and East High athletic trainer Dave DiPasquale rushed to the court after the young man went down. Their first time working hand-in-hand, the two used an AED to revive the teenager. He was transported to the hospital and the Rochester City School District says he remains in stable condition. Rucker and DiPasquale both say this was not their first time using emergency life-saving devices. 

Even with the adrenaline of the emotional evening, Rucker says he was able to get a good night's rest after hearing from the student. He says the boy found him on Facebook and gave him a call to thank him and DiPasquale, for their quick instincts. Both gentlemen agree it was just another day on the job. 

Jushawn Rucker and Dave DiPasquale/Spectrum News 1

“After the fire department got there, and we worked a little more and we heard the first voice, it was like, it was like a miracle,” Rucker explained. “I was elated. I mean, everybody was emotional. I was emotional. He was emotional. You know, the team they were coming up to us, giving us hugs, you know, calling us superman. And you know, I’m just like, 'this is another day at my job.'” 

DiPasquale is happy they were able to help. 

“We were blessed to be there. The family is blessed. And we are so happy that this young man is able to spend Christmas with his family,” He said. 

For everyone in the gym, the circumstances were similar to the situation at the beginning of the year, when Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac event during the Bills game in Cincinnati. That’s one of the reasons Superintendent Carmine Peluso says the school was fully prepared to act under emergency circumstances. He adds that it was one thing to be at the right place at the right time, but the two gentlemen were the type the district needed to go towards the trouble to help.