Long Island Middle School Staffers Get Liberty Medals For Saving Student's Life

ALBERTSON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Eight Long Island middle school faculty members were honored Tuesday for helping save a student's life after his heart stopped during gym class.

Sanketh Kumar thanked his heroes Tuesday as Sen. Jack Martins handed out Liberty Medals to the Herricks Middle School staffers. The award is the highest civilian honor in New York state.

"I'm grateful for the people who helped me," Sanketh said.

On Sept. 14, one month before his 13th birthday, Sanketh Kumar collapsed while running the track at the Albertson school.

The boy had gone into cardiac arrest.

Teachers called 911 and nurses rushed to his side.

"It was so scary," said school nurse Dana Lieberman, who performed CPR. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing, that he had no heart beat and he was not breathing. I just screamed to get the AED (automated external defibrillator) and we started CPR right away."

Sanketh's heart started beating again. He was taken to Winthrop University Hospital it took nearly 24 hours for him to regain consciousness.

His mother said heart problems run in the family, but Sanketh didn't have a pre-existing heart condition. To ensure his safety moving forward, doctors implanted an automated defibrillator. If his heart should stop again, the device will jump start it.