Experience gained with Nigerian player helped medic in reviving LeBrom James' son

When Vince Iwuchukwu collapsed on the court during a summer workout at Galen Center on July 1 last year, USC’s training staff rushed to revive the 7-foot freshman whose heart had stopped suddenly.

A trio of certified athletic trainers converged on Iwuchukwu and began administering CPR. One staff member called 911. Another retrieved the automated external defibrillator (AED) that hangs in a hallway off the main court. The speed with which the USC’s staff reacted ultimately saved Iwuchukwu’s life — and later allowed him to resume playing competitive basketball.

The frightening incident gave USC’s staff experience handling sudden cardiac arrest when freshman Bronny James, the eldest son of Lakers star LeBron James, suffered a life-threatening cardiac event Monday morning during summer practice at Galen Center.

James, 18, is currently in stable condition, according to a spokesperson for the James family. He was able to check out of the intensive care unit within 24 hours of his arrival at the hospital, a sign that two cardiologists told The Times was “really promising” for the young prospect’s long-term prognosis.

Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist with the Mayo Clinic, said that James’ short stint in the ICU suggests USC’s response to his sudden cardiac arrest was “masterfully executed.”

Few details have been publicly released about what caused James’ heart to stop or what happened prior to an ambulance arriving at Galen Center on Monday morning. But in any case of sudden cardiac arrest, the few minutes before the ambulance arrives can make the difference between life and death.

The Times spoke with three cardiologists who did not have direct knowledge of James' treatment but spoke generally about the

treatment of cardiac arrest.

“If you don’t shock the heart to a normal rhythm, the patient isn’t going to make it,”  Dr. Shephal Doshi, the director of cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. “And you have minutes to do it.”

In Iwuchukwu’s case, it took less than a minute for one trainer to begin performing CPR, while another unwrapped the AED and attached its pads to Iwuchukwu’s chest. The device measured his heart‘s rhythm and determined a shock was needed.

When the AED was deployed, Iwuchukwu instantly regained consciousness. His eyes opened wide and he let out a loud wail. He was awake as the ambulance arrived and even called his mother on the ride over.

“With something like this, where it’s a life-or-death situation, to perform under pressure and do what they’re trained to do at that level, it’s really just incredible,” USC coach Andy Enfield said of the Trojans' medical staff earlier this year. “They gave Vince just such incredible care, as quickly as could be possible in a situation like that.”

The 911 call following James' cardiac arrest was made at 9:26 a.m. Monday. James lost consciousness sometime in those minutes between his cardiac event and the ambulance arriving, a source not authorized to speak publicly about the incident told The Times.