Two Henefer youth baseball coaches were honored for saving an 8-year-old player's life after his heart stopped at practice.

Gene Richins and Billy Tinkham received recognition from the North Summit Fire District at the Henefer Town Council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 6, as first reported by KPCW. The boy had suffered cardiac arrest after being struck by a baseball during practice Sept. 1 at Henefer Town Park around 5 p.m.

Richins began CPR immediately. Tinkham kept the rest of the young players calm.

North Summit Fire District firefighters arrived about two minutes after dispatch, according to the Park Record. Crews administered a defibrillation shock and restored the boy's pulse. He was then flown by University of Utah AirMed to Primary Children's Hospital.

The condition, called commotio cordis, occurs when a sudden blow to the chest disrupts the heart's rhythm. The American Heart Association reports 10 to 20 cases in the U.S. each year, most commonly in young male athletes. Baseballs are among the most common causes. The current survival rate is above 50%, but an automated external defibrillator (AED) must be used within three to five minutes for the best chance of survival. The American Heart Association recommends keeping AEDs at athletic and recreational facilities.

Henefer Mayor Kay Richins thanked the coaches at the meeting. "It's very apparent that heroes don't wear capes," she said.

The mayor added that the coaches had taught their players to look out for one another, and that when something went wrong, the character of both men showed in their willingness to act without hesitation.

In a Sept. 2 statement after the incident, the North Summit Fire District credited the coach's quick response, saying the first minutes were critical and urging community members to learn CPR and know where the nearest AED is located.

The incident has prompted a broader safety push. North Summit Fire District has applied for a state grant to install AEDs at event centers across the district. Details of the grant, including the amount and granting agency, have not been made public. No update on the boy's condition has been released.

The first responders who treated the boy will also be honored Friday, Oct. 9, at 11 a.m. at Park City Hospital.