Pickleball player at Chesterfield court saved with AED after collapsing

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A man playing pickleball on a court in Chesterfield County collapsed and was unresponsive Thursday morning, after which players quickly took action by performing CPR and using an AED, which revived the player.

An AED is an “automated external defibrillator,” which is a medical device that analyzes heart rhythms and delivers an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal.

According to a spokesperson for Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation , during the morning of Thursday, Apri 18, players were participating in pickleball on the courts at the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center’s Hull Campus when a player, Wayne Latimer, collapsed and was unresponsive.

Shortly thereafter, players on a nearby court took quick action to help. Players Sandy Sanford and David Elko called 911 to activate an AED machine, that had recently been installed, and player Karen Kent began performing CPR.

Afterward, Kent said Latimer regained a faint pulse and began to breathe again. Kent continued to help until emergency response crews arrived, after which Latimer was taken to the hospital, according to the spokesperson.

On the morning of Thursday, May 2, after Latimer had recovered, he returned to the courts to give candy lifesavers and deliver a speech to friends and fellow players who helped to save his life that day.

Latimer and his wife also thanked Parks and Recreation Director, Neil Luther, for the AED machines installed in parks throughout the county that helped save his life.

At the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, May 15, the board recognized Latimer, Kent and the pickleball players who were there that morning.

Latimer thanked his friends who he referred to as “pickleball angels”, who saved his life, according to his doctors. He also expressed his gratitude to the emergency crews who provided care and took him to the hospital.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRIC ABC 8News.