'That happened to me': Former Triangle athlete recounts his heart stopping on the field in incident similar to Damar Hamlin's collapse

While these kinds of on-field emergencies are rare, they're not unheard of.

And the training that saves the lives of players, can save lives almost anywhere.

Firefighters, EMTs and doctors, they'll all tell you that when someone's heart stops, you have just minutes to step up and intervene.

Whether you're on the field, or off.

The moments are hard to watch; A sport defined by agility, speed, and action brought to a standstill - along with a man's heart.

The kind of moment Alex Beuris knows all too well.

"He got up, stood for a second, and collapsed," said Beuris. "That's kinda what happened to me."

Beuris lives in Asheville these days, but back in 2008, he was a Cardinal Gibbons Crusader, a senior on the lacrosse team.

One Saturday in April, he and his teammates were facing off against Providence Day.

"I remember getting to the school, getting ready," said Beuris. "The next thing I know I'm in the hospital."

Beuris only found out later that a ball to the chest had stopped his heart.

His life was only saved by an automated external defibrillator, or AED, and a slew of parents who knew CPR.

"The circumstances are kinda spooky to think about," said Beuris. "Just how lucky I was to be in that situation."

A cardiac arrest like this on the field, or on the court, is rare, but not unheard of.

Universities like Duke and UNC take these risks seriously.

It's the same story at Duke.

Spokesperson Mike DeGeorge noted that first responders at practices and games are always at the ready, including just a month ago, when they had to jump into action when a visiting player's dad collapsed in the stands.

Holly Springs Fire Department’s Joe Harasti leads CPR and AED training for the public.

He said having those skills can be vital.

"I’ve been teaching it for about 20 years now," said Harasti. "I think I have six or eight students now who have saves to their credit."

Beuris considers himself lucky because he can't remember what happened to him, but for family and friends who have to see an emergency like that happen, it can be traumatizing.

He said he wants to make sure those people are acknowledged, and get the help they need.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Hamlin still remains hospitalized in critical condition and is under sedation.