A Missouri high school football player has tragically passed away after suffering a medical emergency following a practice in 100-degree Fahrenheit heat earlier this week.
The student, a sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri, died Friday.
He was identified as 15-year-old Ovet Gomez Regalado in a letter the district sent to families following the devastating loss.
Ovet was found in critical condition when Johnson County Med-Act emergency medical services responded to the school at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday after reporters reported the “medical emergency.”
The Missouri teen’s death was the third fatality at a high school football game this season as temperatures soar across the U.S.
He was identified as 15-year-old Ovet Gomez Regalado in a letter from the district sent to families after the devastating loss
Ovet (pictured far left) was found in critical condition when Johnson County Med-Act crews responded to the school at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday — after reporters reported the “medical emergency.”
The 15-year-old participated in the off-season soccer practice for the school team, where he had played since his freshman year.
According to sports statistics published online, Ovet played both offensive and defensive roles, including nose guard, defensive tackle, center and guard.
SMNW Director Lisa Gruman remembered Regalado as a “warm and wonderful student who touched the hearts of so many people in our community.”
The news of Ovet’s heartbreaking death comes just days after another high school football player in Alabama passed away.
The 14-year-old, identified as Semaj Wilkins of New Brockton, lost his balance during a sweltering workout.
His identity was confirmed by According to WDHN.com, Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham is responsible for the deceased’s death.
The 14-year-old has been identified by the Coffee County coroner as Semaj Wilkins (pictured)
The local school has now confirmed that he is a freshman at New Brockton High School.
“I ask the community to continue to pray for his family, his teammates, his coaches and all those affected by the tragic loss of Mr. Wilkins,” Woodham said in a statement.
As Woodham told WDHN, Wilkins suffered a medical emergency around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the area was under a heat risk level 3, which is considered high. Temperatures in the area were around 100 degrees around 4 p.m., the local station reported.
Players defended the school’s heat protocol during a conversation with WDHN.
Last week, a star player on a high school football team died in front of his teammates after suffering a heart attack during practice.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, was at practice for about 40 minutes at Hopewell High School Monday night when he collapsed after a water break.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, was about 40 minutes into practice at Hopewell High School Monday night when he collapsed after a water break
Two coaches attempted to resuscitate Taylor and called 911. Emergency services arrived immediately and took him to the hospital, where he died.
Taylor was in the 10th grade and played football for the school. The school has since remembered him as a “genuine and remarkable student.”
His coaches and teammates also had similar feelings about the teenager.
A statement from the school said: ‘This 15-year-old young man is regarded as one of the most genuine and remarkable students our staff has ever worked with.
‘He was regarded as a ‘light’ by all who met him and left a lasting impression.’