Student who collapsed in critical condition

Student who collapsed in critical condition

Family says student who collapsed improving

Family members tell us 14-year-old Ben Highland is waking up in ICU at the UK Children's Hospital after spending much of the last 24 hours in a coma.

A Fayette County Schools spokesperson tells 27 Newsfirst the eighth grader was taking part in baseball conditioning at Lafayette High School. We're told an athletic trainer gave Highland CPR until emergency responders arrived.

Director of High Schools for Fayette County, Mike McKenzie, says there was also help on the field from an unexpected source.

"At some point in the process, there was a neighbor walking her dog, who's a nurse," he explained during a press conference at central office. "So, she assisted the trainer and helped with two-person CPR."

Highland was taken to Kentucky Children's Hospital for treatment. His family tells 27 Newsfirst that Highland is in critical condition and in the intensive care unit.

Considering the dire situation, school leaders say everything went as well as it could have.

"Our trainers have an emergency action in place just for this type of situation," commented Don Adkins, Athletics Director for Fayette County. "How everything was in place from the trainers to the coaches, everything was done that could be done."

Highland is a student at Jessie Clark Middle School. He is one of seven eighth graders training with the high school team, hoping to get a spot on this Year's roster.

Officials at Jessie Clark school say us that they have extra counselors on staff today.