Written by Pearl Salkin
Updated September 2026 with additional firsthand details from Tyler Byall’s mother and current CPR information.

Some cardiac arrest survivors spend the rest of their lives wondering why they were given a second chance.

For Tyler Byall of Fort Wayne, Indiana, part of that answer may have come almost exactly one year later.

In 2010, Tyler was a 17-year-old high school student when he suffered sudden cardiac arrest while sleeping.

His mother, Kristi Polcsak, immediately began CPR.

That quick response helped keep Tyler alive until paramedics arrived and continued advanced resuscitation.

Tyler Survived More Than 30 Minutes Without a Sustainable Pulse

Several years after this article was first published, Tyler’s mother returned to the original post and shared more details about how serious his cardiac arrest had been.

According to Kristi, Tyler was without a sustainable pulse for more than 30 minutes.

After circulation was restored, he was placed into a medically induced coma. His family was warned that survival was uncertain and that significant brain injury was possible.

Then Tyler surprised everyone.

He woke up two days later.

His recovery took time, but according to his mother, he ultimately returned to an active life.

That alone would have made Tyler’s story remarkable.

What happened next made it unforgettable.

One Year and One Day Later

On September 21, 2011, one year and one day after Tyler’s own cardiac arrest, he was finishing another school day at North Side High School in Fort Wayne.

Nearby, classmate Abey Luttman suddenly collapsed near her locker.

She was in cardiac arrest.

This time, Tyler was not the patient.

He was the rescuer.

Tyler immediately began CPR.

A teacher and others helped while school nurse Sunny Stachera retrieved the school’s AED.

The AED was used, emergency responders arrived, and Abey was transported to the hospital.

She survived and was later released.

From Cardiac Arrest Survivor to CPR Rescuer

The timing was extraordinary.

A year earlier, Tyler’s own life had depended on someone else beginning CPR.

Now another teenager’s survival depended on people nearby recognizing cardiac arrest and acting quickly.

Tyler’s mother later wrote:

“Everyone said that Tyler was sent back because his work here was not done.”

For the Byall family, what happened one year and one day later gave those words special meaning.

Immediate CPR and an AED Can Save a Life

Tyler and Abey’s stories show why early CPR and defibrillation matter so much during sudden cardiac arrest.

Current American Heart Association guidance continues to emphasize rapid recognition, immediate high-quality CPR, and early AED use as critical parts of the Chain of Survival.

CPR helps maintain some blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.

An AED analyzes the heart rhythm and can deliver a shock when a shockable rhythm is present.

The AHA reports that bystander CPR is still provided in fewer than half of adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, which means many victims do not receive that early help before EMS arrives.

Both Teens Received Implanted Defibrillators

Following their cardiac arrests, both Tyler and Abey received implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, or ICDs.

An ICD is a small implanted device that monitors heart rhythm and can provide treatment if certain dangerous rhythms occur.

These devices may be used in selected patients who have survived cardiac arrest or who remain at high risk for serious ventricular arrhythmias.

The School Community Was Recognized

In October 2011, the Fort Wayne school board recognized Tyler and others involved in Abey’s rescue.

The story also drew attention from the Indiana chapter of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association.

In recognition of the successful response, the organization donated a Powerheart G3 AED to another Fort Wayne school.

The message was simple:

An AED cannot help if one is not available.

And even the best AED is most useful when someone nearby recognizes cardiac arrest, starts CPR, and retrieves the device quickly.

CPR Training Turns Recognition Into Action

Nobody at North Side High School could have predicted Abey’s collapse.

But several important pieces were already in place:

• Someone recognized the emergency
• CPR began quickly
• The school had an AED
• People nearby knew how to respond
• EMS was activated

That combination matters.

The 2025 AHA guidelines continue to emphasize a Universal Chain of Survival, reinforcing the importance of early recognition, CPR, defibrillation, advanced care, and recovery after cardiac arrest.

Tyler Continued Moving Forward

When Kristi returned to the original article in September 2014, Tyler was approaching the fourth anniversary of his cardiac arrest.

She reported that he was then a junior at Indiana University Bloomington and doing well.

That update adds another chapter to the story.

Tyler was not simply someone who survived sudden cardiac arrest.

One year later, he helped give another student the same chance.

Why CPR and AED Training Matter

You may never expect to perform CPR on a coworker, student, friend, or family member.

Tyler certainly could not have predicted that almost exactly one year after his own cardiac arrest, he would be kneeling beside someone else performing CPR.

That is why CPR and AED training matter.

People do not get advance notice that cardiac arrest is coming.  Only 10 % of victims survive without CPR.  

Preparation happens before the emergency.

Learn CPR and AED Skills

In-Pulse CPR provides hands-on American Heart Association CPR, BLS, AED, and First Aid training.

 View Upcoming CPR Classes

Businesses, schools, churches, and organizations can also schedule private on-site CPR and AED training.

 Learn About On-Site CPR Training

The person who needs CPR tomorrow may be someone you know.

Being prepared today can make a lifesaving difference.

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Updated September 2026: This article was originally written by Pearl Salkin and has been substantially revised using additional firsthand details provided by Tyler Byall’s mother, Kristi Polcsak, in a 2014 comment on the original article. CPR and AED information has also been updated to reflect current American Heart Association guidance.

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