By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-03 14:56:47 | Updated at 2026-06-07 09:58:50
3 days ago
A Georgia mother has been hailed a hero after saving her 14-year-old son after he suffered cardiac arrest during track practice.
Tamara, whose last name was not given, was attending her son Collin's track practice when he suddenly fell into cardiac arrest.
The mother's quick thinking and preparation would save Collin's life as she was able to perform CPR on her son to restart his heart.
Her son was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where he would spend four days and get diagnosed with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery, or AAOCA.
AAOCA is a rare congenital heart condition that can increase the risk of going into sudden cardiac arrest, the hospital said.
Due to the condition, Collin underwent open heart surgery and has made a full recovery, the hospital said.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the family for comment.
Since the scare, Tamara has become an advocate for parents learning CPR, as she attributes the lifesaving measure for keeping her son alive.
Tamara saved her son's life by performing CPR on him after he suffered from cardiac arrest at track practice in Georgia
He was diagnosed with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery and underwent open heart surgery
His mother credits doing CPR on him as the reason he is still alive today. Collin has since been released from the hospital after making a full recovery
More than 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year, claiming more lives than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers, influenza, pneumonia, auto accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined, according to the American Heart Association.
Most people suffer the sudden condition outside of a hospital, meaning bystander interaction is vital for their survival.
If a bystander performs CPR on a patient immediately after they go into cardiac arrest, their chances of living triple, the American Heart Association said.
The American Heart Association recommends compression-only CPR for bystanders who come across someone who has suddenly collapsed and to call 911.
Hands-only CPR includes interlocking the hands over one another and pushing 100 to 120 compressions per minute into the center of the chest of the patient.
The survival rate for cardiac arrest is roughly 10 percent when it occurs outside of a hospital. The rate rises to 21 percent for those who experience the medical event in a hospital.
