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Three Longfellow Middle School eighth graders drew on school CPR lessons during a life-or-death emergency in March, helping save the father of one of the students after he collapsed during a Boy Scouts outing.

Davin Lee, Raphael Loosen and Avi Yoshimizu were mountain biking to earn merit badges when Davin’s father, Laurent, collapsed about three miles into the ride. The group had reached a small parking lot near Furnace Road when the boys initially thought he had stopped to rest. They soon realized he was unresponsive.

As Raphael’s mother called 911, Raphael began performing CPR. He relied on the hands-only technique he had practiced at school, delivering chest compressions at the recommended pace of 100 to 120 per minute.

Raphael and several adults took turns administering CPR for at least 10 minutes while Avi supported Davin. They continued until paramedics arrived.

Davin said the responders’ defibrillator did not deliver a shock because it detected a pulse, indicating that the group’s efforts had kept Laurent’s heart circulating blood.

Laurent is now moving toward a full recovery. Davin said his uncle, a cardiologist, later told him that his father had faced a 5% chance of survival and an even smaller chance of escaping major injury. So far, the family has seen no signs of brain damage or amnesia.

Annual lessons became a lifesaving skill

Longfellow students receive hands-only CPR instruction each year from Gwyneth’s Gift, a foundation that promotes CPR training and awareness of automated external defibrillators.

The organization teaches in schools across Virginia, including several Fairfax County Public Schools. In 2019, it trained a record 1,000 Longfellow students. The recurring instruction and the school’s four AEDs helped Longfellow become Fairfax County’s first HEARTSafe school.

Jennifer Griffin, the foundation’s president and co-founder, later met with Davin, Raphael and Avi. She praised all three for responding courageously and said each played an important role in saving Laurent’s life.

Longfellow Principal Chris Butzer said the school intends to continue its partnership with Gwyneth’s Gift so students retain skills they can use beyond the classroom.

The experience convinced the boys that CPR is something everyone should learn. Raphael said they never expected to use their training—but the emergency showed why practice matters.