The swift actions of parents and bystanders at a junior touch rugby match in the rural town of Yass have been credited with saving the life of a 10-year-old boy who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
Dramatic Collapse After Scoring Try
Tala Teofilo had just completed an impressive full-length run of the pitch to score a try for his team and was celebrating with teammates when he suddenly collapsed. The young athlete had suffered a heart attack, sending shockwaves through the community gathered to watch the junior game.
His stepmother, Kass, revealed to The Daily Telegraph that without the immediate response from Tala's aunt and other bystanders who rushed to his aid within seconds, the outcome could have been tragically different. "We would be in a completely different situation," she stated emotionally.
Critical Minutes of Life-Saving Intervention
Tala's heart reportedly stopped intermittently for five minutes as off-duty medical professionals and trained bystanders sprang into action. The quick-thinking individuals performed CPR and used a defibrillator on the young boy before paramedics arrived at the scene.
Emergency services were called, and the 10-year-old was eventually flown to Westmead Hospital for specialist care. Medical tests later revealed Tala had an anomalous coronary artery, meaning his coronary artery had developed in an unusual location compared to typical anatomy.
Unexpected Diagnosis and Community Support
"No one had any idea something like this could happen," Tala's stepmother told the outlet, noting that the active child had been energetic his entire life. Despite the shocking diagnosis, the young boy has maintained remarkably high spirits throughout his hospital stay.
Amanda Teofilo has established a GoFundMe page to support the family during this challenging period, which has already raised over $15,000 at the time of writing. The fundraiser description explains: "After countless tests, doctors have identified the cause of the cardiac event, and Tala is scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery next week."
The page further notes that while family members focus on being by Tala's side, "the costs are already beginning to build—travel, accommodation, time away from work, and all the unexpected expenses that come with such a sudden medical emergency."
Tala's stepmother has expressed profound gratitude for the community's support and has issued an important public plea urging people to undergo CPR training. "It saved his life. You never know when you might need it," she emphasized, highlighting the crucial role that immediate intervention played in her stepson's survival.
The young rugby player is now awake and talking, but faces open-heart surgery on Wednesday to address his heart condition.
