COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-
A 17-year-old high school football player collapsed during a game and died shortly thereafter.
Fermin Vialpando, a 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound center for Harrison High School, was running down the field in the third quarter Friday night when he collapsed, The Gazette newspaper reported.
Vialpando, a senior, tried to call a huddle just before he collapsed, Harrison cornerback Miki Eltagonde said. “He was running down the field and he just stopped and fell. He tried getting up and then fell back again and it happened again,” Eltagonde said.
A teammate yelled to coaches that Vialpando was having a seizure, and the game was halted. A doctor was on the field within a minute his collapse, athletic director Dave Hogan said.
Vialpando was taken to Memorial Hospital, where he died. Chris Valentine, a hospital spokesman, said he could not provide a cause of death.
“Everybody’s in shock,” Hogan said. “You see what you think is a healthy young person. It’s a hard thing,” he said, choking back tears.
Chaplains were called to help grieving players and friends.
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