A Texas teenager tragically collapsed and died in a cross-country meet moments after breaking his personal record time, according to local reports.
Angel Hernandez, a 16-year-old sophomore at Chisholm Trail High School, had just completed a 5K run at a district track meet in Haltom City in Tarrant County on Oct. 13 when he collapsed right after crossing the finish line, witnesses told KHOU.
The teenager’s worried friends accompanied him to a water source where he fell again. He was rushed to a local hospital where he died an hour later.
Brent Brevard, who coached Hernandez at Chisholm Trail High School last year before retiring, said he was the ideal student-athlete.
“He worked hard and cared about his teammates,” he told the outlet.
“But he also behaved well in school and took care of his grades.”
Hernandez collapsed after posting his best time in a 5K race on Oct. 13, KHOU.KHOU reported.
“He’s a great kid, a nice kid, a good student, and it was terrible news,” Brevard added.
Friends and family still don’t know what caused the teenager to collapse after running one of his best races.
Hernandez’s funeral was held Friday, where his family received a varsity letter jacket, KHOU reported. Later that night, at the high school homecoming football game, a moment of silence was held in his memory.
Hernandez was an avid martial artist in addition to running.KHOU
The teenager also had a passion for martial arts, according to his obituary, and competed in competitions across the country.
His karate coach, Ashley Wood, said she has been comforting his devastated teammates since his death. She said he showed no signs of illness before his collapse.
“He made you love him with his personality,” she told KHOU. “He had a contagious smile. The moment of silence helps us know that everyone loved him.”
A moment of silence was held for Hernandez at Chisholm Trail High School’s homecoming game on Friday.KHOU
Wood launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Hernandez’s family cover funeral costs.
“It’s very difficult. We will never get over it. We will never forget it. We will miss him here, but we will always love him,” he said.
Hernandez is survived by his parents, Antonio and Elsie Hernandez, and his younger brother, Mark Hernandez.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn