Cleveland High player returns to school after suffering cardiac arrest during game

A Cleveland High School football player returned to school on Thursday after suffering a medical emergency during the team's game last week against Southeast Raleigh. 

Senior wide receiver Krisjon Clark had to be resuscitated on the field after going into cardiac arrest during the second half of HighSchoolOT's Game of the Week. 

Clark left the game in an ambulance after he was hit by two defenders while trying to bring in a short pass with 5:39 left in the third quarter. 

According to Cleveland coach Scott Riley, Clark was not breathing when the medical team first got to him and began doing compressions. WRAL later confirmed that Clark went into cardiac arrest. Before he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, Riley said a defibrillator detected a faint pulse and Clark became more alert and even wanted to stand up.

"He was just lifeless," said his father, Kris Clark, who added he jumped over the fence separating the grandstand from the players and ran to the other side of the field to check on his son. He ended up having to do chest compressions on Krisjon in an urgent call to action.

"I took over doing compressions at one point," said Kris Clark, who is the principal at Fuquay-Varina Middle School. "Then they instructed us to back up, and then the AED administered a shock. And that's when I think there was another doctor, I think, to my right, and he said he felt a pulse, and he started breathing. That's when he kind of came back, and his heart started beating again."

Kris Clark told WRAL News that Krisjon was released from the hospital on Sunday. He was able to walk on his own and the family attended church on Sunday morning. He returned to school on Thursday and attended football practice that night to support the team on the sidelines. 

It was hard to stay focused and calm in that moment, which was scary for everyone, not just those closest to Krisjon.

"I kind of pride myself on being able to keep my composure in heightened situations," said Kris Clark. "And so it is definitely different when it's your own kid. And you know, I've done the CPR and the AED training, you know, probably six or seven times now, not thinking that one day I may have to use this on my own kid, but that's what happened on Friday."

Kris Clark said the family is grateful for the outpouring of support they've seen since the injury. He thanked the medical staff and coaches who worked to ensure Krisjon had proper care. He had no complications and tests came back normal. Krisjon won't play until he's been cleared by a doctor.

"We've received nothing but love and support," Kris Clark said. "I've been getting text messages left and right. He's getting text messages left and right. My wife is receiving them. Thank you to everyone who's been praying for us."

After a discussion over whether to finish the game, the teams decided to continue playing. Cleveland held on to win its 60th straight regular-season game in a 28-10 final.

"It's the emotional toll that is tough for him right now," said the father. "Because, you know, he's reminding and people are sharing with them, you know, that they thought they were going to lose him."