Texas law professor survives after student performs CPR in classroom
A former Navy SEAL and law students saved Michael Maslanka after he collapsed during an evening class in Dallas.
Michael Maslanka, a 73-year-old law professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) College of Law, collapsed and stopped breathing during an evening class on October 8, 2026. According to the Times of India, the professor experienced blurred vision and illness before falling to the floor.
Matthew Melton, a 45-year-old third-year law student and former Navy SEAL, performed three rounds of CPR by alternating between chest compressions and rescue breaths. Melton reported hearing the professor's ribs break during the procedure. Other students, including Anwar Hannon and Jeff Baza, rendered aid, while Daniella Sanchez called 911.
Emergency responders took Maslanka to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. CBS News reported that doctors administered electric shocks to his heart twice to treat ventricular tachycardia, a heart rhythm disorder. Maslanka spent two days in intensive care before being moved to a regular hospital room.
The professor has since recovered and returned to teaching. Maslanka expressed gratitude to his students, stating that the CPR they performed kept him alive until emergency care arrived. He is now urging the public to learn and get certified in CPR.
UNT Health physician Jeff Beeson noted that the students' actions served as an example of how basic life-saving knowledge can make a difference. Maslanka is currently writing an article for Texas Lawyer regarding his experience.