South Dearborn mom saved by athletic trainer, CPR and AED

(AURORA, IN) –  The mother of a South Dearborn cheerleader is alive thanks to the quick actions of an athletic trainer.

Sara Jane Lusby collapsed in the stands during a basketball game against East Central on Thursday, January 25. 

South Dearborn athletic trainer Jacob Steinmetz saw the commotion in the stands and immediately sprung into action.

"I heard someone yell for a medic and I looked back and saw seven or eight people surrounding a person," Steinmetz said.

As players and cheerleaders were escorted out of the gym, Steinmetz immediately ran into the stands as his instincts and adrenaline kicked in. 

"Someone called 9-1-1 and off we went, we started basic life support with what we had right there," he said.

Jake, along with nurse Tara Cutter, began administering CPR within 30 seconds. 

An AED that was in the gym was also brought to the patient within a minute-and-a-half of Lusby collapsing.

The six cycles of CPR that were administered kept her blood circulating enough until first responders were able to arrive. Aurora EMS arrived minutes later and rushed Lusby to the hospital where she regained consciousness and is now making a full recovery.

Lusby is expressing gratitude to those who rushed over to help her when every second counted. 

‘I also want to thank assistant principal Curt Borntrager for bringing the available AED to me and using it twice to restart my heart. The three of you saved my life. There really are no words to describe my gratefulness,” she said.