Hockey Player Without A Pulse Saved Thanks To Quick Action

BEDFORD, NY — Quick action by teammates and first responders helped to save the life of a hockey player who went into cardiac arrest on the ice.

At around 11:30 p.m., on December 20, Bedford police began receiving 911 calls reporting that a player was unconscious on the ice during a late night hockey event at the Harvey School ice rink.

Officer DeAlto soon arrived on scene and found that the male player was not only unconscious, but was not breathing and in cardiac arrest. He immediately began CPR and applied an AED, ultimately administering a shock.

Detective Whalen, along with Officer Leone and Officer Sagliano, arrived and continued to care for the player while EMS was on the way. During that time, the Bedford police officers paused and evaluated the patient's status and were able to determine that he had regained a pulse but was still requiring ventilation.

Members of the Katonah Fire Department, Katonah-Bedford Hills VAC and Westchester EMS arrived and took over, and subsequently took the patient to Northern Westchester Hospital.

It turns out this holiday story has something of a "Hallmark" ending.

"We were happy to learn recently that the patient was discharged from Northern Westchester a few days later and is on his way to recovery," Bedford police said in a statement. "Not only is hockey a demanding team sport, so are emergencies. Through the immediate notification to 911 by the teammates, the quick response and care provided by responding Bedford PD officers and the subsequent advanced care by arriving EMS and staff at Northern Westchester Hospital this story has a happy ending as we enter 2025."