What happened to Ava Azzopardi has been described by paramedics as "every parent's worst nightmare".
The 14-year-old collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest after taking to the field for a soccer game on October 15.
An off-duty doctor and an off-duty nurse were among the bystanders performing CPR until paramedics arrived.
Almost a month later, she returned to the club to reunite with her teammates and thank the first responders.
Ava did not remember the incident, but she was already raring to get her boots back on for the next season.
"I remember halfway through school that day, then nothing."
'It was really frightening'
Ava's mum Tracey Azzopardi held back tears as she described the Friday evening she saw her daughter collapse on the field.
"It was really frightening, we realised from the sideline it was Ava," Mrs Azzopardi said.
"We're so fortunate for the people that did CPR, then the paramedics."
Ava was in an induced coma and spent time in the paediatric intensive care unit.
Mrs Azzopardi said genetic testing was underway to work out what went wrong.
"They inserted a small defib for Ava, that will let her life return to normal," she said.
Her friends cheered her back with a guard of honour at the Runaway Bay Soccer Club on Thursday afternoon.
"The team and the girls here are just so honoured to have her back at the club," Runaway Bay Soccer Club Director, Al Mucci said.
A fundraising campaign for the teenager raised over $22,200.
Paramedic Adam Flory was one of the first paramedics to arrive at the scene.
"Any case you go to involving children is confronting for any paramedic, no matter their experience," Mr Flory said.
"It's a remarkable story, it's a remarkable recovery, it's very rewarding to see her walking around and being with her today."
The importance of CPR
An off-duty doctor and an off-duty nurse were among the bystanders performing CPR until paramedics arrived.
Mr Flory said the incident highlights the importance of learning the life-saving skill.
"CPR, defibrillation, the chain of survival coming into play which ultimately saved this young person's life," he said.
