Valley student brought back to life

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Daniel Walls was like any other 8th grader on the basketball team at Chauncey Rose Middle School in Terre Haute when he collapsed January 3 in the middle of warm-ups. At first, it looked like a seizure. Then he stopped breathing and so did his pulse.

Coach Doug Stagg said he didn't even think as he grabbed the automated defibrillator from the gym wall just a few feet away.

"If I never have to do it again, it will be too soon," said Stagg. "But am I glad it was here, I am extremely glad it was here that day."

Daniel's father Det. Dan Walls is the police officer assigned to Chauncey Rose. He said when he got to the gym, he saw the face of death on his boy, and immediately started praying.

"God heard the cry of a father and answered that prayer," said Det. Walls. "Because I saw one thing after another that leads me to believe from everyone's testimony that this was a miracle. This was a miracle of life."

Daniel had to be shocked twice. Even so, just five days later, he was released from the hospital. Even more incredibly, just two weeks later, he's back to school full-time.

Doctors are calling it a sudden cardiac arrest, but still don't know what caused it.

Daniel had never had any medical issues before.

"I think God gave me a second chance of life," said Daniel.  "It blows my mind, it really does."

Det. Dan Walls credits and thanks the school corporation for having the defibrillators so close.

Doctors have implanted a defibrillator into Daniel's chest. That will keep him from being able to compete in contact sports, but he hopes to be able run and lift weights in a few months. He still hopes that he's able to join the military later in life.