Submitted by SCAFoundation on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 12:00am

CHAMPAIGN — A Findlay teenager was listed in stable condition Wednesday at a Peoria hospital after he was resuscitated by an off-duty Champaign police officer and two nurses at a summer league basketball game at Parkland College. Champaign Police Lt. Jon Swenson was in the stands watching a game between Mahomet-Seymour and Okaw Valley when he noticed that one of the Okaw Valley players who had just left the game had collapsed on the bench at about 7 p.m. Monday. The player was Devin Sperry, 17, of Findlay.

"It appeared he passed out and went limp on the bench," Swenson said. Swenson found an automated external defibrillator with the help of a coach. Swenson was joined by Teresa Turner and Betsy Brooks, both registered nurses from Mahomet, who were also in the stands. Turner said the teen was not breathing correctly and that no pulse was detected.

"I knew we had to act quickly," she said. The nurses began administering CPR as Swenson began attaching the defibrillator and then used it. "I can't tell you I felt totally comfortable in that situation, but I've been in other stressful situations at work," Swenson said.

The two nurses and Swenson continued administering CPR to the teen, and Swenson administered another shock with the defibrillator, and soon the youth's breathing and pulse were restored. Jim Risley, a Mahomet-Seymour teacher, also helped out.

Sperry's father, Brian Sperry, said Devin was first taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana and was later transferred to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

"They are taking tests to see if he needs surgery," Brian Sperry said on Wednesday night. "Fortunately it looks like there is going to be a happy ending here," said Swenson, who has visited the teen at the hospital. Brian Sperry said he is thankful for the heroism of the police officer and nurses.

"I believe that God put those people there in the gym for that purpose," he said.