A 17-year-old high school junior in Georgia has died after collapsing earlier this week.
The student, identified as Hadden Kelly, attended Dodge County High School in Eastman.
“There are no words to express the sadness that our DCHS family feels for the loss of junior Hadden Kelly,” the school said in a statement. “Please join us in prayer for his family, friends, and our DCHS Family. ‘Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.’”
Dodge County Coroner Joe Smith told local station WGXA that Kelly was his great-nephew. He explained that Kelly was taking part in homecoming activities when he collapsed in the yard of a home on Monday, Sept. 15. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Smith also told WMGT that Kelly and a friend had been “TPing” a house when it happened.
Speaking later, Smith described Kelly as fun-loving and confirmed that an autopsy will be done in Atlanta to find out the cause of death.
Kelly’s high school golf coach shared a tribute on social media, saying Kelly was a leader and always encouraged his teammates.
“He was our top performing golfer and always finished earlier than most of his teammates. He ALWAYS stayed till each team member finished,” the coach wrote. “He could have left as most of the time he finished first against the competition. It wasn’t about him. He stayed to support his team. He wanted the team to succeed!”
Smith also told WGXA that Kelly worked at the Dodge County Golf Club and played golf daily.
“He played every day, and I believe if that were something he wanted to do, he would have gone pro because he was that good,” Smith said.
