CLAYTON, N.C. (WTVD) — Cleveland High School’s football team was trailing Southeast Raleigh High School 10-7 in the third quarter when the game came to an abrupt halt Friday night.
Wide receiver Krisjon Clark was double-teamed and hit hard by an opponent, causing him to immediately collapse on the field. Play was stopped instantly.
An athletic trainer from the school rushed to Krisjon’s side with an automated external defibrillator (AED) and began performing chest compressions without delay.
“I was yelling ‘Jesus, Jesus,'” said his mother, LaTasha Clark. “And my husband was jumping over one fence, I was jumping over the other, and putting my hands up.”
Several people, including Krisjon’s father, Kris Clark, joined in administering 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 recalled. “I’m praying and asking God, like, ‘Please, this isn’t going to be the last time that I see or speak to my son.’”
Kris Clark said he was told at one point to step away, after which a shock was administered via the AED. Moments later, Krisjon showed a faint pulse.
### Questions About Response Time
According to Wake County EMS, firefighters arrived on the scene in four minutes, and EMS crews arrived in eight.
“They should have been there,” LaTasha Clark said. “I saw him laying there, but I just looked at my hands as a friend of God and asked God to be in control. Seeing his eyes try to open on the ground when they were trying to bring him back, I just know sometimes you don’t get another chance.”
Eventually, Krisjon regained consciousness and was transported to a hospital. He was discharged the following day.
The Clark family told ABC11 that doctors described Krisjon’s recovery as a “walking miracle.”
“It feels like I had a second chance,” Krisjon said. “I remember lining up in that formation and then doing the route. I don’t remember getting squished between two guys or being driven to the ground.”
### A Call for Improved Safety Measures
This frightening incident has reignited discussions about the importance of having ambulances positioned at high school football games to reduce injury risks and prevent further harm.
“The faster the response time, the faster you can get blood flowing to the brain again,” Kris Clark explained.
Currently, Wake EMS and the Wake County Public School System do not have a contract to provide coverage for high school football games. However, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association requires member schools to participate in a cardiac safety program. This mandates:
– Having an appropriate number of AEDs on campus relative to athletic facilities
– Maintaining an AED maintenance program
– Having a licensed athletic trainer or first responder on site at athletic events
“I think we’ve seen enough cases around the nation that warrant at least bringing this up for discussion,” Kris Clark said. “If you experience a cardiac arrest, there’s a higher likelihood of saving that individual and reducing brain damage with fast response.”
Doctors have rarely seen a case where a young person experiences cardiac arrest, then walks out of the hospital the next day on their own.
### A Family of Athletes with Big Dreams
The Clark family is no stranger to athletic excellence. 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 legendary coaches Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier.
Krisjon aspires to follow in their footsteps with hopes of playing Division I college football.
“I’m excited to go to the next level and do what they’ve already done — they’ve set the example for me,” he said.
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This remarkable story underscores the critical importance of rapid medical response and proper safety protocols in high school sports to protect young athletes’ lives and futures.
https://abc11.com/post/krisjon-clark-doctors-call-cleveland-high-school-football-player-collapsed-field-walking-miracle/18046513/
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