Aidan Brezonick-KTVB

A 14-year-old is in critical condition at a Boise hospital after his heart stopped Wednesday while playing baseball at Lake Hazel Middle School.

BOISE -- A 14-year-old boy was taken to an area hospital Wednesday evening in critical condition after his heart stopped while playing baseball.

It happened during a Little League game at Lake Hazel Middle School in southwest Boise. He suffered what is known as non-trauma-related cardiac arrest.

Ada County paramedic supervisor Mike Nugent says bystanders gave the boy CPR until medical help arrived. The quick action helped save the boy's life.

"The CPR was excellent that they were performing on the boy," Jeremy Schabot with Ada County Paramedics said. "The life saving (procedure) was absolutely essential and critical.

He was able to breathe on his own when he left the baseball game.

The boy, Justin McAfee is now at the pediatric intensive care unit at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise.

Justin's father Ken tells NewsChannel 7 that his child is in critical condition - but is not in a coma. A hospital spokesperson confirmed his status.

Ken McAfee said his son has had previous heart issues.

Nearly 80 of Justin's classmates from Cole Valley Christian School crowded the hospital waiting last night. Students took an hour long break to pray for him today.

-NewsChannel 7's Maggie O'Mara contributed to this report