Teen Athlete Saved from Sudden Cardiac Arrest by Fast-Acting Bystanders and AED
On April 8, 2025, at a high school track meet in Glenwood, Iowa, 15-year-old Nate Bentley was running the second leg of a relay race when he made his handoff, yelled “Go!” to his teammate—and then collapsed face down on the track. He had just suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). At that moment, time stood still. But a group of everyday heroes jumped into action.
A High School Track Meet Became a Scene of Crisis
From the stands, a mom, Naomi Sharp, a certified coach and preschool professional—noticed Nate wasn’t moving. She leapt over the fence without hesitation. Nate had no pulse. She immediately began CPR on a teen athlete, uniting instinct with training.
Off-duty nurses from Glenwood and Harlan rushed in to continue chest compressions. At the same time, Jeff Bissen, Glenwood’s Activities Director, was already sprinting to retrieve the school’s ZOLL AED. He delivered it to the scene.
An assistant coach, who also serves as a Glenwood police officer, applied the AED pads. The machine analyzed Nate’s heart and delivered one life-saving shock.
That shock brought Nate back.
Within minutes, EMTs arrived and transported Nate to Children’s Hospital in Omaha. He was sedated, intubated, and monitored closely. Remarkably, he woke up within 12 hours. Within 24, he was alert and recovering. And less than 72 hours after his cardiac arrest on the track, Nate walked out of the hospital—alive, smiling, and wearing a ZOLL LifeVest for monitoring.
A Real-Life Hero Story—and a Powerful Reminder
Nate returned to school just five days later. He’s a multi-sport athlete—football, wrestling, and track—and thanks to a community that was prepared to act, he’ll continue to live out the future he’s been working so hard for.
This is more than a feel-good story. It’s proof that early CPR and AED access save lives. It’s a powerful reminder that you don’t need a medical degree to make a difference. You just need to care. You need to move. You need to help.
From Naomi in the stands, to the nurses, to the coaches, to Jeff and the AED, to the EMTs and the hospital team—everyone was a hero in that chain. And because of their courage, Nate is alive today.
