Westlake’s Priedkalns Stable After Surgery to Remove Clot in Brain

Westlake High running back Erik Priedkalns, who collapsed on the field during Friday night’s game against Newbury Park at Thousand Oaks High, is listed in serious but stable condition at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks after undergoing emergency brain surgery, according to Westlake Coach George Contreras.

A blood clot was removed from Priedkalns’ brain during a 3-hour operation late Friday night, said Contreras, who spoke with Priedkalns’ parents Saturday. Contreras said that physicians told Priedkalns’ mother Liz that there are no signs of paralysis and that her son is expected to make a full recovery. He remains in intensive care.

Priedkalns, who had a fainting episode in Westlake’s opening game Sept. 9 and had not played since, lost consciousness while walking to a team huddle in the second quarter. Efforts to revive Priedkalns at the stadium were unsuccessful and he was immediately transported to the hospital, Contreras said.

“He was involved in a play, tried to get up, took a couple of steps, fell down, got up again and fell down,” Contreras said. “He said he had no feeling in his legs.”

The 5-foot, 10-inch, 169-pound senior was scheduled to play against Ventura in the third week of the season but suffered a relapse of the fainting spells, Contreras said. Priedkalns finally was cleared this week by doctors--who had blamed the problem on a viral infection--and he participated in full-contact drills with the rest of the team.

Contreras said that Priedkalns was well enough Saturday morning to phone his parents, who had returned home after spending the night at the hospital.