A Texas family is grieving the loss of 16-year-old Jaren Troy Lawson, who died after collapsing during his football team’s off-season practice on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Lawson collapsed while doing up-downs, a high-intensity exercise, during a practice with the Stevens High School football team, according to local reports. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he died early the next morning.
Northside School District confirmed that a student died shortly after midnight and said a coach accompanied him to the hospital.
A parent of one of Lawson’s teammates told a local outlet that Lawson tried to get up after he collapsed.
“After that happened, the boy got up, tried to say something, they couldn’t make out what he was saying, and then he collapsed,” the parent said.
Lawson’s family said they were shocked by his sudden death. His older sister, Zamira Lawson, said she is still trying to learn more about what happened during the practice.
“I don’t really know anything specific about the practices,” she said. “I’ve never been to a practice. I’ve been hearing what they’ve been saying about the practices. I don’t know yet, but I will try my best to find out.”
Lawson’s identity was confirmed by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office. His cause of death has not been released.
In a statement, Northside School District said it is conducting a thorough investigation and has deployed school counselors to support students and staff at Stevens High School.
In an email shared by the district, principal Ryan Purtell said the school community is mourning the loss and that counseling and other resources are available. He noted that students may process grief differently and that the days ahead could be difficult as the school works through the loss together.
