BY MAX SILVERSON
The Star-News
A 14-year-old softball player from Boise is recovering after suffering a cardiac arrest on Friday evening at the Mountain Madness Fastpitch Softball Tournament at Gold Glove Park in McCall.
Lauren Wontorcik slid into home base, stood up to celebrate and collapsed, according to the team’s assistant coach Dan Wilkins.
“She collapsed and immediately myself and the head coach realized something was wrong,” said Wilkins, who works as a detective for the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
“When we got to her, she was having a seizure. We got her into the recovery position and couldn’t find a pulse, so I immediately initiated CPR and started doing compressions,” he said, noting that he had recently finished a CPR recertification course.
“It was just automatic, the training kicked in and the focus was on giving her quality CPR,” Wilkins said.
Wilkin’s wife was nearby and called 911. The closest first responder was McCall Police Officer Michael Ronay, who brought an automated defibrillator from his patrol car.
The machine was attached and shocked the unconscious Wontorcik one time. Her heartbeat returned and she began breathing on her own.
“I wanted to do everything I could to help,” Ronay said.
A McCall Fire & EMS ambulance arrived about a minute later and transported her to the hospital.
Wontorcik was then flown to the St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center. She has since been discharged and is recovering at home, said her mother Carrie Burke.
“She as restricted activities right now and is wearing a monitor, but she is doing really well,” Burke said.
Thirteen minutes elapsed from the time of the 911 call, to arriving at the hospital. The call came in at 8:19 p.m., Officer Ronay arrived at 8:24 p.m., with the ambulance arriving about a minute later. The ambulance arrived at the hospital at 8:32 p.m., said McCall Fire Chief Garrett de Jong.
“This call underscores the importance of bystander CPR, which primes the heart for early defibrillation, and law enforcement being trained and equipped to provide CPR and defibrillation, and rapid ambulance response times,” de Jong said.
“We are so fortunate that stars aligned on Friday night,” he said.
“Overall, this was a team effort of incredible acts by the female’s coach, an assisting nurse, Officer Ronay, and McCall Fire and EMS personnel. We are extremely proud of all involved and couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome,” said McCall Police Chief Dallas Palmer.
McCall Police do not typically render medical assistance, but are trained in CPR and first aid. All MPD vehicles are equipped with automated external defibrillators.
The softball game between the girl’s team, the Boise Blast 14U, and the 16U Fruitalnd Grizzlies, was called off following the incident.
Wontorcik’s in the park home run was the final, and winning play of the game. It finished 6-2.
The team was given the option of exiting the competition, but upon consulting with the family of the injured player, the team played on, eventually finishing fourth, Wilkins said.
The Fruitland team brought a bouquet of flowers to the hospital and players throughout the tournament played on with the injured player’s number written on their arms, he said.
An online fundraiser has been set up to help cover Wontorcik’s medical bills, and also raise money to purchase automated defibrillators for each of the seven softball teams in the Boise Blast organization.
The fundraiser can be found here.
In addition to having automated defibrillators on hand, Burke asserted that everyone should learn CPR and practice regularly.
“Having folks trained in CPR is essential,” Burke said. “It doesn’t matter where you get your training, who gives it to you, you can work seamlessly with others.”
