A Hero on the Ice
During a casual pickup game at the Skatetown Ice Arena in Grass Valley, California, the atmosphere shifted abruptly when Ken Dorner collapsed, his pulse gone, his body limp.
Ben Hertel, a Nevada County Probation Officer III and avid hockey player, sprang into action, beginning chest compressions and applying an automated external defibrillator that had been stationed nearby.
Reviving a Teammate
Within two and a half minutes of uninterrupted CPR, Dorner’s heartbeat returned, a recovery that medical professionals say likely averted irreversible brain damage.
The effort left Dorner with broken ribs from the force of compressions, but he later expressed gratitude, noting that the quick response gave him a chance to recover.
Community Tribute
A small ceremony at the arena honored Hertel, where he received a commendation from the American Heart Association and a proclamation from Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick, while colleagues and community members applauded the power of preparedness.
Hertel, who has trained roughly a hundred probation officers in CPR and other emergency techniques, previously applied a similar skill set at a county fair to stanch a stabbing wound, underscoring a pattern of readiness.
The episode serves as a reminder that lifesaving skills are not confined to hospitals or classrooms; they can emerge in the midst of a friendly match, turning ordinary participants into first responders.