Athletic Trainer Winnie Victor Saves Athlete After Sudden Cardiac Arrest at Track Meet

What began as a routine high school track meet quickly turned into a life-or-death emergency—and one Athletic Trainer’s rapid response made all the difference.

After finishing a 200-meter race, an Archbishop Williams athlete collapsed on the track, unresponsive and without a pulse. Within seconds, St. Mary’s Athletic Trainer Winnie Victor recognized the severity of the situation.

“He was unresponsive, not breathing, and [had] no pulse,” Victor said. “I went into CPR right away and directed bystanders to call EMS and grab the AED.”

Victor, who recently began working with St. Mary’s, was assisted by Melissa Nolan, an emergency room nurse, and George Lopez, an off-duty state trooper.

Together, they delivered multiple rounds of CPR and AED shocks until the athlete regained consciousness just before emergency responders arrived.

Victor said it was clear almost immediately that this was not a typical post-race situation.

“He was not responding to his name… when I couldn’t find a pulse, I knew I needed to act immediately,” she said.

The athlete was transported to Mass General Hospital, where he is now stable and undergoing further evaluation. According to school officials, doctors told the family that without the immediate response, the outcome would have been very different.

Athletic Director Jeff Newhall called Victor a “true hero,” but the moment also underscored something larger—the critical role of preparation, teamwork, and decisive action when every second counts. Read more here!