Doctors call Cleveland High School football player who collapsed on field a 'walking miracle'

CLAYTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- Cleveland High School's football team was down 10-7 at Southeast Raleigh High School in the third quarter Friday night when play stopped.

Cleveland wide receiver Krisjon Clark was double teamed and hit hard by an opponent. He immediately collapsed.

Play stopped.

An athletic trainer for the school quickly rushed to Krisjon's side with an automated external defibrillator (AED) and immediately began compressions.

"I was yelling 'Jesus, Jesus'', said his mother, LaTasha Clark. "And (my husband) was jumping over one fence and I was jumping over the other and putting my hands up."

Several people, including Krisjon's father, Kris Clark, were doing compressions to save his son's life.

"When I got there, they were cutting his jersey and cutting his shoulder pads ... and he wasn't responding. He was kind of just laying there lifeless," Kris Clark said. "I'm praying and I'm asking God, like, 'Please, you know, this isn't going to be the last time that I see, you know, my son. That I speak to my son."

Kris Clark said at one point, he was told to step away, and then they administered a shock. Moments later, Krisjon had a faint pulse.

Questions about response time

According to Wake County EMS, firefighters arrived in four minutes and EMS crews arrived in eight.

"They should have been there," said LaTasha Clark. "I saw him laying there, but I just looked at my hands as a friend of God and asked God to be in control ... and seeing his eyes try to open on the ground when they were trying to bring him back, I just know sometimes you don't have another chance."

Eventually, Clark regained consciousness and was taken to a hospital. He was discharged Saturday. The Clark family told ABC11 that doctors described it as a "walking miracle."

"It feels like I had like a second chance," Krisjon said. "I remember lining up in that formation and then doing the route. I don't remember me getting squished in between two guys and then the guy driving me to the ground."

The Clark family's experience reignited debate about ambulances positioned at high school football games to reduce the risk of injury and further body damage.

"The faster the response time, the faster you can get blood flowing to the brain again," said Kris Clark.

Wake EMS and the Wake County Public School System have never had a contract to provide coverage for high school football games.

However, according to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, members schools are required to participate in a cardiac safety program that mandates schools have an appropriate number of AEDs on campus relative to athletic facilities and an AED maintenance program. Additionally, each member school must have a licensed athletic trainer or a first responder on site for athletic events.

"I think we've seen enough cases around this nation that warrants, you know, that at least be brought up for discussion," said Kris Clark. "If you are experience a cardiac arrest, then there's a likelihood of you saving that individual and reducing brain damage and other damage. (Doctors) have never seen a kid come in that experience, cardiac arrest, and get up and walk out of the hospital the next day on his own."

The Clarks are a family of athletes. LaTasha Clark was a gold medalist in track and field at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Kris Clark played wide receiver at the University of South Carolina under head coaches Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier.

Raw video: Watch as Krisjon Clark shows speed and separation during a stop-and-go route drill.

Krisjon still has designs on playing Division I college football.

"I'm excited for like, to go to the next level and to do what they've done already, and like, they've set the example for me," he said.

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