Young boy placed in coma after soccer fall at Ballarat school

A heroic stranger saved a young student from death after his heart stopped when he slipped and fell while playing soccer at a Ballarat school.

Oliver Asker's heart stopped when he fell over while playing soccer at Pleasant Street Primary School in Ballarat. Picture: Supplied

A heroic stranger saved a young boy from death after his heart stopped when he fell over during a holiday program at a Ballarat school.

Oliver Asker, 9, slipped and fell while playing soccer at Pleasant Street Primary School about 2.45pm on Wednesday.

Following his fall, Oliver’s heart stopped and a passer-by performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

Oliver, also known as Ollie, was flown to Royal Children’s Hospital where he was placed in an induced coma.

At the time of his fall, Ollie was being supervised by Camp Australia, an organisation that runs out-of-school-hour programs.

Ollie’s family told the Herald Sun that he was awake from his coma and recovering in hospital on Friday afternoon.

They said there were “no words” to explain how they felt when they heard about his fall.

“We have spoken to the passer-by and thanked them for what they did for our son,” they said.

“We will be forever grateful.”

The family said doctors were running tests to find out exactly what caused Ollie’s heart failure.

Ollie’s aunty Rachel Asker created a GoFundMe page on Thursday which has raised more than $2000 for Ollie’s medical expenses.

She said Ollie was a caring, empathetic and goofy kid who loved basketball and his twin brother Flynn.

“He has tons of energy, loves life and tells all of his stories with exuberance,” she said.

“Our deepest gratitude to anyone who is in a position to contribute (to the GoFundMe).”