And Another Save

By JON ERICSON, jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com | Posted: Friday, September 16, 2011 11:05 am | CEDAR FALLS, Iowa ---- A race for one high school athlete turned into a fight for life. A 17-year-old Decorah cross country runner collapsed Thursday evening while running in the Rich Engel Cross Country Classic at Birdsall Park in Cedar Falls. A spectator at the event, Dr. Greg Hoekstra, began doing CPR on him until a Cedar Falls police officer Sam Shafer and reserve officer Bob Wright arrived on the scene. The officers had an automated external defibrillator and administered the shock to jump start the young man's heart. The athlete was taken to Sartori Hospital. Sartori personnel called the on-scene response a "textbook save" and noted that CPR alone would most likely not have saved the student's life. Cedar Falls Police have been carrying the defibrillators in each squad car for about eight years. Each officer is re-certified to use the devices each year. "Frequently we're on the scene before ambulances and paramedics, so you have to do what you can," said Police Chief Jeff Olson. "We're just thrilled when we can do something like this to help." The athlete's name has not been released. Read More: runner collapses