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Seconds from Tragedy, a Neighborhood Sprung into Action

On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 17-year-old Riley Broadhurst, a Fleming Island High senior and competitive Ninja Warrior athlete, set out for what should have been a routine run. He was just doors away from his home on Castille Drive when he suddenly collapsed in a neighbor’s yard. Despite his peak physical condition, described by his father, Dr. Christian Broadhurst, as that of an “athletic monster”, Riley had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest with no prior warning signs.

The odds of survival for such an event are remarkably low, but a series of precise, life-saving coincidences intervened. It began when Vivian Primizic decided to leave her son’s house early that day. Her timely departure allowed her to discover Riley and scream for help, alerting a group of neighbors who possessed the exact skills needed to save his life.

The Chain of Survival

The response was immediate and professional. Three neighbors, each with critical backgrounds in emergency response and CPR, took charge of the scene:

Responder	Background	Role in Rescue
Mike Leach	Retired Military	Administered chest compressions
Stephanie Pratt	Former ER Nurse	Provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
Bobby Dopson	Retired Fireman	Assisted while also recovering from his own open-heart surgery

Pratt, who has spent 15 years in emergency rooms, noted that this experience was different. “It was in a street in my next-door neighbor’s house. It was personal,” she shared. Even Bobby Dopson, struggling through his own recovery from surgery five weeks prior, was fueled by adrenaline to assist.

Clay County Fire Rescue arrived shortly thereafter, utilizing a defibrillator to shock Riley’s heart three times before a normal rhythm was restored.

A Path to Recovery

Following his stabilization at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, Riley was transported to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. His mother, Dr. Jennifer Broadhurst, noted that while the family faced a “horrific experience,” they felt as though they had “won the lottery” given the outcome.

Riley’s recovery has been steady:

• Medical Progress: His heart passed a stress test “with flying colors,” and he underwent an MRI to assess his condition further.
• Protection: He has since had an internal defibrillator (EV-ICD) implanted to manage his diagnosis of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.
• Long-term Outlook: While he faces a long road ahead, medical professionals have indicated he suffered no permanent damage.

Divine Intervention

For the Broadhurst family, the timing of the event added a profound layer of emotion. The collapse occurred on the first anniversary of the passing of Riley’s grandmother. The family had planned a vigil for her that evening; instead, they found themselves at the hospital fighting for Riley’s life.

“I have absolutely no doubt that she played an enormous part in his making it through this in one piece,” said Christian Broadhurst. He remains eternally grateful to the neighbors whose presence he describes as “divine intervention”.

Riley spent 24 hours in a medically induced coma and 8 days in Pediatric CV-ICU. He underwent a cardiac ablation. Doctors diagnosed him with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

The Florida legislature has mandated EKG testing for student-athletes.

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Reported by: Donna Ryan for In-Pulse CPR
Date: March 23, 2026, First Reported December 13, 2023 in Clay Today