A Massachusetts boy is in a medically induced coma after he was injured playing baseball on Sunday.
According to Boston police, the 9-year-old boy was hit by a baseball while playing at John J. Ryan playground in Charlestown.
Family members have identified the boy as "Eddy," a little leaguer from Waltham.
NBC Boston has learned the boy was practicing with his stepfather at the playground. The boy was pitching with his stepfather batting when a high pop-up was hit that missed the boy's glove and hit him in the chest. The impact sent him into cardiac arrest.
When emergency crews arrived at the park, the child was unconscious. They gave him CPR and used a defibrillator to get a heartbeat. The paramedics then inserted a breathing tube.
"This is a successful out of hospital resuscitation from cardiac arrest," said Boston EMS official Ed Hassan. "A life was saved here today."
Seasoned little league coaches like Al Carrier are calling this a rare situation.
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"I can't remember in the 15 years I've been down here having an ambulance on the field," said Carrier, a board member for Charlestown Little League. "Maybe once or twice. Typically a sprained ankle or maybe a fat lip."
Carrier says there are chest and heart guards for baseball players created to soften the blow of a baseball.
"I would say to parents that are nervous about this type of thing, it was a rare occurrence, but by all means, if you want to take all protective measures you can to protect your son or daughter from injury," said Carrier.
Family members say the boy is at Mass General Hospital with his mother by his side.
