Defibrillator Donated In Name Of Baseball Player Who Died
Heart Problem Apparently Caused Death Of 14-Year-Old Student-Athlete

NBC Channel 10 Story

LINCOLN, R.I. -- In the wake of tragedy, a defibrillator was donated Thursday to the Lincoln High School Athletic Department.

Lincoln junior varsity baseball player Michael Monteleone collapsed on the field and died last month. The 14-year-old was a star on a team that went to the Little League World Series two years ago. It appears his death was caused by a heart problem.

The potentially life-saving defibrillator was donated by manufacturers Zoll Medical and Bio-Detek, and MedTech Ambulance. "We're really sorry that it took Michael's death to bring so many people together, but you can see the good that's coming out of it," said Gary Reis of MedTech Ambulance.

"What we're trying to do is help other families and make sure things like this don't happen again," said Anthony Monteleone, the victim's father. In the weeks since Michael Monteleone's death, his family has tried to raise awareness.

"I think he's the type of person who would have liked to start this kind of program himself. He was really a people person,"Anthony Monteleone said.

Anthony Monteleone has been told that if there had been a defibrillator on the field, there was about a 50 percent chance it could have made a difference.

"What we had happen here was a terrible tragedy. And we hope in the future that we never have to face that kind of thing again. But we need to be prepared for the realities of what happens," Lincoln High School Athletic Director Kevin McNamara said.

Anthony Monteleone is pushing to get more of the defibrillators. "Helping to maybe have his name live on is our main goal. And with these machines, it gives us an opportunity to do that," he said.