BRANDON, Fla. — True second chances don’t come often. Andrew Emerton got his second chance at 26-years-old.
Last year, when playing video games with friends, he went into sudden cardiac arrest.
“One of them called 911 immediately and the other one started administering lifesaving CPR,” said Emerton. “And I believe she had to do CPR for 10 minutes straight.”
He and several members of his family live with a rare, inherited heart gene mutation. It’s called Desmoplakin cardiomyopathy. It can increase the chance of unexpected sudden cardiac arrest.
By luck, coincidence or divine intervention — Emerton survived.
“And the very first thought was, ‘Dang, like a higher power is not done with me yet. I have more to do,’” said Emerton.
Andrew Emerton lays in a hospital bed while being treated for cardiac arrest in 2024. (Andrew Emerton)
He took months to think about what he would do with his second chance at life. While on a walk, an idea came to him.
“Out loud I asked and I said, ‘God, if you think I’m ready, so do I.’ And within 30 seconds, the idea for Breathe Florida popped in my head… I was like, ‘This is like what I was brought back to do,’” said Emerton.
He created Breathe Florida, a nonprofit that pays for lifesaving CPR training for high school students.
“I was in ROTC all four years and in this high school,” said Emerton, at Brandon High School. “I can’t even count how many times I must have barged in and out of this hallway doing different things, whether it was a rifle team (or) four drill team.”
Emerton’s picture is still on the wall outside the JROTC classroom. He was the 2017 Brandon High School JROTC Battalion Commander, the highest rank.
The 2025-26 school year cadets admit, they relate to Emerton and his story.
All the current students could put themselves in Emerton’s shoes.
“I think his story shows how real it is,” said Marielis Pena, JROTC senior.
They also hope they could think as quickly on their feet as Emerton’s friend did with doing CPR.
“Hanging out, playing video games, and then it just suddenly went wrong,” said Samuel Rodriguez, JROTC junior.
There are several CPR classes now planned at Brandon High School. Emerton hopes this is just the beginning.
“If I spread this far enough across Florida and do it for long enough, there simply will come a time where I believe this will save someone’s life,” said Emerton.
In Hillsborough County Public Schools, hands-on CPR training is a graduation requirement.
Breathe Florida’s classes are just additional training students can take.
To donate to Breathe Florida, click here.