By Police1 Staff
KENT, Wash. — Surveillance footage shows a student suddenly collapse on the floor of his high school, as an officer jumps into action and runs for his automated external defibrillator, saving the boy’s life.
Xavier Hunter, 16, collapsed Nov. 6 from a condition he was unaware of at the time that caused an irregularly fast heartbeat. An announcement made over Kent Meridian High School’s PA system alerted Officer Scott Rankin, the school’s resource officer, who ran to his vehicle in the school’s parking lot, returning with a defibrillator.
Rankin used the defibrillator and performed CPR until EMTs arrived at the scene, and Hunter was rushed to the hospital.
“I remember when I woke up in the hospital bed, but I don’t remember anything from before that,” said Hunter.
“He’s a hero. If it wasn’t because if him, I’d be dead, probably.”
“Most of the time, it doesn’t have a story book ending,” said Rankin. “It’s certainly a highlight of my career.”