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Teen Collapses, Dies During High School Football Practice

WUSF | By Adam Bakst
Published June 12, 2019 at 4:17 PM EDT
A Middleton High School student collapsed and later died during football conditioning drills Tuesday.
Middleton High School PTSA
A Middleton High School student collapsed and later died during football conditioning drills Tuesday.

A high school student collapsed and later died during conditioning drills in Tampa on Tuesday.

Hezekiah B. Walters, 14, collapsed on the Middleton High School football fields at approximately 4 p.m.

Tampa Police say it happened approximately 30-40 minutes into the drills, which included exercises such as weightlifting, wind sprints and water breaks.

Walters was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“At this point we have looked it over we have seen absolutely no signs of any foul play,” said TPD Public Information Officer Steve Hegarty. “It just looks like a horrible tragedy.”

The medical examiner will determine the cause of the death.

“We are devastated by the death of one of our students. This student was an amazing young man who was loved by his friends, teachers and staff at school,” said Hillsborough County Schools spokeswoman Tanya Arja. “We were heartbroken to hear the news that he later passed away.”

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Adam Bakst
Adam Bakst is a WUSF/USF Zimmerman School digital news intern for summer 2019.
See stories by Adam Bakst
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