NY Boy, 15, Dies at HS Football Practice
Nick Dellaventura was finishing a voluntary preseason football practice when he suddenly started having trouble breathing. The 15-year-old collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.
He was pronounced dead hours later.
During the practice the players wore no equipment and there was no contact. But it was a warm day with relative humidity for the Staten Island-based team.
Dellaventura seemed fine until everything suddenly went wrong.
At this point, the cause of death isn't clear and an initial autopsy came back inconclusive, reports New York Daily News.
Still, there are some important precautions to take away from this incident.
Summer heat can be dangerous, especially if you're sweating. Make sure to replenish fluids and stay hydrated. For athletes, sports drinks can also help replenish lost nutrients.
It seems that the coaches did a lot right during the practice, based on a report from CBS New York. They scheduled it at night when temperatures are cooler and limited it to about 90 minutes. The lack of equipment helped keep players cool and the lack of contact minimized injury.
School officials responded quickly when Dellaventura collapsed by providing first aid and calling paramedics, reports New York Daily News. There's no evidence that the practice was unsafe or the injury was due to poor supervision.
In some cases, the heartbreaking truth is there's no one to blame. Sometimes terrible things just happen.
It's still unclear if anything could have prevented Nick Dellaventura's collapse during football practice. His teammates are dedicating this season to his memory.
Relevant Resources:
- Kids' Sports Injuries: 1 in 10 Get Hurt (FindLaw's Injured)
- Should You Sign a School Sports Waiver? (FindLaw's Injured)
- Can You Win a Child Sports Injury Lawsuit? (FindLaw's Injured)