17-07-2025
'I was going to pass out.'- Angel City FC's Savy King Explains How the Medical Staff Saved her Life from a Heart Attack
Medical Staff giving CPR to Savy King (Image via Getty Images)
Angel City FC player Savannah Mckenzie, also known as Savy King, recently opened up about a frightening experience she had during a National Women's Soccer League match against the Utah Royals.
She revealed that she suffered a heart attack on the field and shared details of what happened during the incident. Savannah also expressed her deep gratitude to the Angel City FC medical staff, crediting them for saving her life with their quick response and on-the-spot CPR.
Angel City FC's Savy King Opens Up About the Heart Attack she Suffered during the Women's Soccer League game
Soccer star Savy King speaks out after heart health emergency
On Wednesday, July 16, Savy King appeared on
Good Morning America
, where she spoke openly about the heart attack she suffered earlier this year.
The 20-year-old revealed that the incident occurred on May 9 during a National Women's Soccer League match against the Utah Royals. She collapsed on the field right after celebrating a teammate's goal.
King said, 'There's actually a lot that I don't remember. I remember I grabbed my leg because I was trying to distract myself from the fact that I felt like I was going to pass out. And then I remember the medical staff coming onto the field.'
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She also mentioned that she had no prior history of heart issues or any major injuries. King credited the quick response of the medical team, who immediately began CPR on the field. She was then rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she underwent emergency heart surgery.
The Main Reason Behind Savy King's Heart Attack
Dr. Richard Kim, who led the surgical team at Cedars-Sinai that operated on King, explained the underlying cause of her heart attack. Speaking to
GMA
, Dr.
Kim revealed that Savy was born with an "anomalous left coronary artery," which led to her sudden collapse. He said that the medical team 'created a new pathway for blood to reach her artery' and praised the first responders for their 'fantastic job' in providing immediate care on the field, which helped prevent permanent damage.
Dr. Kim explained, 'The left coronary is the most important blood vessel in your heart, and when it's anomalous that means it's in a slightly different location than normal.'
'They saved my life,'- Savy King praises the Medical Staff and Doctors
In her interview with GMA, King expressed deep gratitude to the medical team and doctors, saying, 'They saved my life. That will stay with me forever in my heart. And just knowing I get to play in front of them too, they were a huge reason why I am here. I play for them too, now.'
Savy King became emotional and broke down in tears as she shared how deeply the experience impacted her family. She spoke about the unwavering support of her mothers during the medical emergency and recovery, expressing profound gratitude.
'I wouldn't be here without them,' King said about her moms, Kim and Karrie King. 'There is not enough, anything that I could give them. The rest of my career, the rest of my life is for them.
'
Savy King, an American professional soccer player and defender for Angel City FC in the National Women's Soccer League, is currently intensifying her training in preparation for a potential return to the field, according to GMA. However, no specific timeline for her comeback has been confirmed yet.
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