Jackson Scarborough, an 18-year-old freshman at Fresno City College, is recovering after a sudden, life-threatening aortic dissection that occurred on the basketball court. The incident happened nearly two weeks ago, with emergency medical services and athletic staff credited for his survival.

Scarborough, a 6-foot-9 incoming freshman, was with teammates reviewing game film when he began experiencing severe chest pain. Fresno City College athletic trainer Francisco Gamboa was alerted and immediately evaluated Scarborough. Gamboa noted that the teen had not yet engaged in any physical activity.

"They had just gotten out of the film, so they hadn’t done any physical exertion at all," Gamboa told ABC News. "I saw the readings, and they weren’t matching up with what was being shown."

Scarborough then contacted his mother, Joanna Scarborough, from the trainer’s office, reporting difficulty breathing. His mother was informed that emergency medical services were being called. Paramedics transported him to Community Regional Medical Center.

Initially, doctors suspected an aneurysm, but during surgery, they diagnosed an aortic dissection, a tear in the body's main artery. Scarborough underwent a nine-hour operation, which his mother described as successful. She noted that such a condition is often fatal, with only about 30% of individuals surviving to reach a hospital.

The diagnosis came as a shock to the family, as Scarborough had no prior history of heart problems. He has been playing basketball since first grade and competitively since fourth grade, recently helping lead Clovis High School to a championship.

His family expressed gratitude to the Fresno City College athletic staff for their swift action. "They’re the heroes here. They recognized it and they made the call to get him here in time," Joanna Scarborough said. Gamboa emphasized the importance of emergency preparedness, stating, "It’s a bit overwhelming. It’s what you train for, hoping you never have to use it. But the fact that I actually got to implement it and save someone’s life is very gratifying."

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the family with medical expenses, approaching its $20,000 goal.