Locust Valley coaches saved student who collapsed
From left: Locust Valley High School coaches Brian LoRusso, Andrew Bock, Andrew Siegel, Ben Martinez and Elliot Aramayo were recently honored with Lifesaving Awards from the American Red Cross. Credit: Locust Valley Central School District
A group of Locust Valley High School coaches were recently recognized for their efforts saving a student who collapsed on the basketball court.
Locust Valley senior Francesco Allocca experienced a “cardiac event” during a basketball practice at the school last fall, prompting basketball coaches Andrew Bock, Brian Lorusso, Ben Martinez and Andrew Siegel, along with volleyball coach Elliot Aramayo to leap into action, according to school officials.
The coaches were honored this spring with Lifesaving Awards from the American Red Cross, which recognizes individuals who use lifesaving skills to "help someone in a life-threatening situation," according to the organization.
The incident occurred during thefirst night of basketball tryouts on Nov. 17.
“Francesco started doing a drill and went to the back of the line, and then he kind of just collapsed on the floor,” said Siegel, the school’s head varsity basketball coach. “He was on his stomach, so we rolled him over and we could see that something was clearly wrong. It wasn’t just that he fainted.”
Siegel said he ran outside to call 911 since cellular reception in the gym can be spotty, while the other coaches began performing CPR after noticing Allocca was not breathing. After about a minute, they used an automated external defibrillator (AED), a device delivers an electric shock to help restore a normal heartbeat.
Emergency medical services arrived within minutes and took over tending to the Bayville teen until he regained consciousness. He was then transported by ambulance to Glen Cove Hospital and later diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart disease.
Allocca, who was an all-county player during the 2024-25 season, was described by Siegel as the school's "best basketball player" and a "senior leader" who is looked up to by his peers. The teen has since recovered and returned to school, but is not expected to play basketball again.
"I'm really extremely thankful for them," said Allocca, 18. "There's not really enough I can do to pay them back."
Locust Valley’s athletic director, Danielle Turner Cosci, praised the coaches for their “preparation, teamwork and leadership."
“On that day, these coaches showed exactly what those words mean when it mattered most,” Cosci said.
The coaches were also commended by Jose Dominguez, the CEO of American Red Cross on Long Island, who said their “calm under pressure was essential.”
“Their actions remind us that heroes walk among us every day and sometimes they wear whistles around their necks,” Dominguez said in a statement.
Nominate a Long Islander who goes above and beyond or serves as an inspiration to their community. Send details and photograph to Michael Ebert, michael.ebert@newsday.com (photos should be high-resolution). Photos may be used in other publications affiliated with Newsday.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
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