Detroit Student Suffers Cardiac Arrest at High School Basketball Game

A student from Detroit's Northwestern High School is on life support after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest during a high school basketball game.

Cartier Woods is an 18-year-old senior at the school and suffered the cardiac incident during the game Tuesday night.

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An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) was used after Woods' collapse. The school district says each school in the district is equipped with such a device. Paramedics performed CPR on the boy for 40 to 60 minutes after his collapse.

No Prior Symptoms

Dwanda Woods is Cartier's aunt and legal guardian. She tells WXYZ-TV that her nephew had no prior symptoms to indicate that he had any cardiac issues. She says the boy has been playing sports since he was 10 years old.

"No one can stop him. He just loves playing football, [and] basketball. That’s his number one goal of what he wanted to do his whole life," she said.

 

Prognosis is Uncertain

Woods was taken to Henry Ford Hospital where he is currently in the ICU.

Ashley Goode is a family friend who has known Woods since he was a baby. She tells the TV station she's been praying ever since she learned of Woods' collapse.

"It’s just so unexpected. I was actually on my way to bed when I got the phone call. I just started going crazy and got on my hands and knees and started praying," Goode said. "I just want to say 'we love you, boo, and wake up, man, and keep on fighting. This is just a little test from God to sit you down for a minute.'"

Tommy's Heart (The Thomas Smith Memorial Foundation) encourages families to have teens screened for heart abnormalities at any of their free screenings. Click here for a list of upcoming screenings.