Sammy Berko, a teenager from Missouri City in Texas, was declared dead after suffering cardiac arrest at a rock climbing gym. However, two hours later, the boy revived, coming back to life in front of his parents.
Despite administering two hours of CPR after his heart stopped, medical professionals were unable to save Sammy’s life and ultimately declared him deceased.
“He climbed to the top of the wall, rang the bell, as we were told, and then his body went limp, and it looked like he was either playing around or passed out. They weren’t quite sure and when they realized he was unresponsive, they lowered him slowly,” said Jennifer, the mother of the young boy.
After doctors told the parents that Sammy was “gone”, the mother and father sat with their sons to say goodbye.
“I started talking to him, just telling him how much I love him and sorry that we didn’t know how to save him. Suddenly, as I started praying, my husband said, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s moving,’” Jennifer recalled to a local news station.
Medical personnel came back to the room and administered aid, reviving Sammy fully.
“I don’t remember anything about the day it happened. The last thing I remember is the night before we had to sign waivers online (for the rock climbing gym), and then I woke up, not even in the pediatric ICU. I woke up in the transitional ICU and that’s the first thing I remember. Then I remember my dad telling me, this is what happened and you better remember this time, because he said it so many times,” said Sammy while talking about his experience.
Although he went two hours without oxygen, the boy has no significant brain damage.
