SAN ANTONIO — It took the right people in the right place and with right training to save a local teacher’s life.
On November 7, MacArthur High School skateboarders found themselves in a life-or-death situation. It was their sponsor, Adam Compton, whose life was on the line.
"I had two main thoughts going through my head, the ‘Oh my God this can't be happening' thought and then that I have to do something,” student Aidan Anthony-Gonzalez said.
The teens are part of a skate club at the high school. That day, they met after school to ride around and practice their skills. And 46-year-old teacher Mr. Compton always takes part.
“I was skating real mellow that day, trying to save energy, be able to do some more tomorrow and what I remember is sitting down for a little bit,” Compton said.
Mr. Compton does not remember much else after that. His students said he had just messed up a trick and after sitting down, he started hyperventilating and then eventually passed out.
“It was rough,” Anthony-Gonzalez said.
Immediately, one student called 9-1-1. While others went to grab athletic trainer, Amanda Boyd.
“So, I turned him over and looked for a pulse and I couldn’t find any and from there I knew he needed CPR, so I began compressions,” Boyd said.
Meanwhile, Anthony-Gonzalez and Steven Amaro knew where the AED was and ran to get it.
“I got AED, CPR certified a couple weeks before the incident had happened,” Amaro said.
Amaro said he helped Boyd place the AED pads onto Mr. Compton and administer a shock.
"Apparently that shock is what revived him,” Boyd said.
Within minutes, EMS arrived. Mr. Compton was rushed to the hospital. The doctors would discover he had a genetic heart disorder that caused him to go into cardiac arrest.
“We always thought it was a heart murmur, ever since I was a kid,” Compton said.
Compton, with a pacemaker, would be released from the hospital and within a few weeks he was back at school.
"I'm still processing how slim the chances were,” Compton said.
While he can’t skate quite yet, he is back with his skate club. His students said they were relieved the moment they spotted him in his history class.
“As much as he’s our teacher, he’s also one of our best friends,” Anthony-Gonzalez said.
All of them said they have gained a better appreciation for life.
"It's really humbling because I am able to be here,” Compton said.