Karen Gwozd-Cornish displays her first-aid certificate outside the west-end Edmonton Soccer Centre, 17415 106A Ave., Wednesday. Gwozd-Cornish recently saved a man's life thanks to her first-aid training. (David Bloom, QMI Agency)

EDMONTON - The life-saving skills of a city soccer mom were put to the test when a friendly kids versus parent game nearly turned tragic.

When another parent suffered a heart attack on the field of the west-end Edmonton Soccer Centre Sunday, Karen Gwozd-Cornish called on her first-aid training to help save the man's life.

"It was not something you expect to have happen; it was almost surreal," Gwozd-Cornish said Wednesday.

Gwozd-Cornish was at the U-10 versus parents game when some players started shouting that someone had gone down on the field.

Gwozd-Cornish, a Grade 6 teacher at Lymburn Elementary, sprang into action.

"I just recognized the signs of a heart attack," said Gwozd-Cornish.

Right away, Gwozd-Cornish called for her husband to bring her the AED (automated external defibrillator), which was available at the facility.

Gwozd-Cornish had just completed her AED training a month earlier, so she was able to confidently operate the device. The ordeal only lasted a matter of minutes.

"It is one of those movie things where everything goes 90 mph but in my brain it was very slow," said Gwozd-Cornish.

Along with other parents performing CPR, she was able to get the dad's heart beating before paramedics arrived.

"It was not solely me who saved this person," said Gwozd-Cornish. "Truly, it was a team effort."

Gwozd-Cornish also attributed her training with the AED as a contributing factor in saving the man's life.

"If people could just realize what a short amount of time they would have to invest, what an asset they would be," said Gwozd-Cornish.

She urges people to take one of the variety of first- aid training courses available throughout the city that include AED training.

"I never would have guessed I would have to use it," said Gwozd-Cornish.

Gwozd-Cornish has been contacted by a number of people saying that she has inspired them to get the training.

"I am over the moon about it," said Gwozd-Cornish.

The man remains in hospital recovering.