Lawmakers revive student CPR debate

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - One Springfield teen-athlete is lucky to be alive, after going into cardiac arrest at school last winter.

His heart stopped after wrestling, but coaches knew how to bring him back to life. Now state lawmakers are pushing legislation that could help save more student's lives.

Olajuwon "OJ" Somerville helped take his Sabis International Charter School wrestling team to top last year.

The 17-year-old was a star-athlete crushing the competition...until his heart stopped after a match in January.

OJ's memory fails him trying to remember the days leading up to his near-death experience, "I really don't remember much from that day."

So one could imagine the shock that OJ felt, after learning how his coaches, parents and students brought him back to life, and then to hear he could never compete again.

"I woke up at the hospital three days later they told me I had a heart attack," recalled Somerville.

If it weren't for quick action, CPR and an AED defibrillator, he wouldn't be alive today. "It's vital because it could save a lot of lives. In fact, there was a kid that had a heart attack before me and died because he didn't have one," said Somerville.

That's why lawmakers met at the State House, weighing bills to beef up CPR requirements for all students. Senator Steve Buoniconti also filed a bill for every coach to be trained in how to use a defibrillator.

In the wake of OJ's life and death scare last winter, more students at Sabis have come forward asking they be trained in these live saving techniques. "I have a handful of students interested in taking CPR after OJ. We started three years ago training all staff," said Sabis nurse Kathleen Dupuis.

"The benefit it gave us saving OJ's life, to me, it makes sense," said wrestling coach Alex Seid.

For OJ and his school, this was one life or death match where teamwork lead to victory.