Quick Response By School Resource Deputy Saves Student: Video

NEW TAMPA, FL — Quick actions by a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy saved a Wharton High School student's life Aug. 17.

Just before 3 p.m., officials at the school at 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. alerted School Resource Deputy William Mellana that a student had passed out while walking on campus due to a medical emergency.

The student was breathing irregularly and was unresponsive. Mellana rushed to the area, where he found the student lying on his back, surrounded by the school nurse and multiple school employees.

After calling Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Mellana used his sheriff's office training to apply a shock to the student's chest using a portable defibrillator. He followed up with several minutes of CPR until Tampa Fire Rescue arrived at the school.

The student was taken to the AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Hospital, where he received additional treatment.

The student has since been released from the hospital. He is now recovering and undergoing further medical evaluations.

"There is no better reward in doing our jobs than being able to help someone and especially save someone's life. Deputy Mellana's actions are a shining example of the heroism and composure under pressure that law enforcement officers must display every day," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We are incredibly grateful that the first aid training each of our deputies receives was able to help this young man make it back home to his family."