ECU Track Athlete Retires From Sports After Surviving Scary Heart Attack

A 21-year-old ECU track athlete, Hailey Yentz survived a life-changing event that ended her college athletics career. She is now speaking out about her terrifying diagnosis and hopes to bring awareness to others.

During practice on Feb. 10, Yentz was working out with her teammates when she suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed. Yentz went into cardiac arrest and medical personnel used an AED three times to get her heart going again.

As her teammates looked on in horror, trainers worked desperately to keep her alive. For 10 grueling minutes, they did CPR until ECU Medical Center staff finally got her heart beating.

“The doctors said I died, I had no pulse and was down for ten minutes,” Yentz said to WITN.

Doctors and athletic trainers claimed it was a miracle that she made it through without permanent damage — something rare in heart cases this severe.

While in the ICU, doctors found she had arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy — a rare inherited heart condition. Yentz now has a pacemaker and defibrillator and doctors have advised her to cease all strenuous activity.

"I don't have any words to express besides thank you to everyone who helped save my life," Yentz told The East Carolinian.

After hearing what happened, her family drove down from Northern Virginia and Durham to be with Yentz in the ICU. Nine days later, they visited Greenville Fire/Rescue Station 3 together, thanking the first responders who saved her.

Yentz is in recovery and focusing on her health with the help of doctors, family and friends.