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Horror on California college basketball court as 6ft 9in teen star suddenly collapses An 18-year-old freshman suddenly suffered a life-threatening tear in his aorta on the basketball court, despite having no known history of heart problems.
Jackson Scarborough, a 6-foot-9 incoming f..
The teen suffered a life-threatening tear in his aorta.
The towering teenager had just finished watching film with teammates and had not yet begun any physical activity when he started feeling intense chest pain, according to Fresno City College athletic trainer Francisco Gamboa.
They had just gotten out of the film, so they hadnt done any physical exertion at all, Gamboa toldScarborough alerted head coach Rob Haynes, who immediately brought Gamboa over to evaluate him.
After checking his condition, the trainer realized something was seriously wrong.I saw the readings, and they werent matching up with what was being shown, Gamboa said.
Scarborough then called his mother, Joanna Scarborough, from the trainers office.He called me from the trainers office and said, Mom, Im having a hard time breathing.
The trainer wants to talk to you.
From there, he said Were calling EMS, she told ABC.
Paramedics rushed the Clovis native to Community Regional Medical Center, where doctors initially believed they were dealing with an aneurysm.Once surgery began, however, they discovered the far more dangerous diagnosis: an aortic dissection, a life-threatening tear in the bodys main artery.
Scarborough underwent a grueling nine-hour operation that his mother said was successful.They thought it was an aneurysm, and when they got in there, it was an aortic dissection, which was a lot more serious, Joanna Scarborough said.
What weve heard is that only 30% of people to whom this happens actually make it to the hospital, she added.
His mother said the diagnosis came as a complete shock because her son had never experienced heart problems.Hes been playing since he was in first grade.
Hes been playing competitively since fourth grade, she said.
Scarborough recently graduated from Clovis High School after helping lead the Cougars to the Central CIF Division Two championship this year.
His family credits Fresno City Colleges athletic staff with recognizing the emergency and acting without hesitation.Theyre the heroes here.
They recognized it and they made the call to get him here in time, Joanna Scarborough said.
For Gamboa, the frightening ordeal reinforced the importance of emergency preparedness.Its a bit overwhelming.
Its what you train for, hoping you never have to use it.
But the fact that I actually got to implement it and save someones life is very gratifying, he said.created for the family says Scarborough began experiencing severe chest pain during practice before doctors discovered the aortic dissection.
Jackson Scarborough, a 6-foot-9 incoming freshman at Fresno City College.