Mar 11, 2003 By Patty Shultz 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – High school sophomores Michael DeBerry and George Cable have been playing basketball on and off the court for several years. When temperatures soared into the upper 50s Saturday, it seemed like a great idea to meet with other friends at the 12th Street playground for a game.

As the pick-up game progressed, it was their friend and classmate Andrew Geyer’s turn to toss the ball back into area of play.

“I watched him pass it back in,” recalled DeBerry, adding that he was sitting on the bench at the time. “Then (Geyer) started leaning over and walking toward the grass and just fell down.”

The dozen or so boys rushed to where Geyer had fallen, only to find him unconscious.

“At first I just thought he was playing around,” said Cable. “It sounded like he was snoring.”

Within seconds, he said, his assessment of the situation changed dramatically and he knew his friend was in trouble and possibly having a heart attack.

“We listened for his breathing and I put my head on his chest to see if his heart was beating,” said Cable of his and DeBerry’s actions.

While the others went to alert Geyer’s parents at their nearby home and call 911, Cable and DeBerry performed CPR.

“It was scary. He wasn’t breathing and he was turning blue,” Cable said.

Although Fayette EMS personnel were on the scene within a few minutes, Cable said it seemed an eternity until he saw the flashing lights and heard the sirens of the ambulance.

“It felt like forever,” he said. “Then, they got stuck and we had to push them out of the mud.”

DeBerry said taking what he had learned from watching television and practicing in the classroom, took on a whole different meaning in those few minutes.

“I just kept thinking positive and doing what I had learned,” he said.

Although still in serious, but stable condition at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh on Monday, Geyer’s sister, Erin, said he is continuing to improve.

“He hasn’t been able to talk to us yet, but the doctor’s tell us he is getting better and he should be out in about a week,” she said.

There is a family history of cardiac problems, Erin Geyer said.

She is taking medication to prevent such attacks as her brother experienced and the family is cautious with their younger sibling, Matthew, who has been diagnosed with similar problems.

“Andrew just had a physical to play basketball and nothing showed up,” Erin Geyer said.

Heart attacks can strike anyone at any age, said Scott Tracy, clinical coordinator for Fayette EMS.

“You would normally think that a heart attack would only strike a man in his mid-40s, but I know of a 6-year-old that had one,” he said. “It’s rare, but it does happen to the young.”

The quick response by DeBerry and Cable to immediately start CPR made the difference in saving Andrew Geyer’s life, Tracy said.

“The paramedic and EMT said they did a great job,” he said. “This is a good example of how early CPR along with quick action with a defibulator can save a life. They didn’t delay. As soon as Andrew dropped, they started CPR and that bought enough time for the defibulator to be brought in.

“Had they waited, Andrew wouldn’t be here.”

Rita Cable said she was very proud of how her son, George, and the other teens responded to the emergency.

Her work as a nurse has only provided her with a limited number of patients needing her to perform the resuscitating actions and in all cases those in need were unknown to her.

“I can’t imagine what the boys must have been thinking doing CPR on their friend,” she said, adding she had provided her son with some instruction in CPR and first aid a few years ago. “It’s amazing that they were able to keep their presence of mind in order to help him.”

While both teens said it was an experience they will never forget, the pair shies away from being considered heroes.

“I’m just glad we were there and knew what to do,” said Cable.