A Missouri high school football player tragically died after suffering a medical emergency following a practice in 100-degree 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 after the devastating loss.
Ovet was found in critical condition when Johnson County Med-Act crews responded to the school at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday, after reporters reported a “medical emergency.”
The Missouri teen’s death was the third fatality at a high school football game this season as temperatures across the United States have risen.
He was identified as 15-year-old Ovet Gomez Regalado in a letter the district sent to families after the devastating loss.
Ovet (pictured left) was found in critical condition when Johnson County Med-Act crews responded to the school Wednesday at 5:25 p.m., after reporters reported the “medical emergency”
The 15-year-old had been participating in off-season football conditioning for the school team, which he has played on since his freshman year.
Ovet played both offensive and defensive roles, playing nose guard, defensive tackle, center and guard at different times, according to athletic statistics posted online.
SMNW Principal Lisa Gruman remembered Regalado as a “warm and wonderful student who touched the hearts of many in our community.”
News of Ovet’s heartbreaking death comes just days after another high school football player died in Alabama.
The 14-year-old, identified as Semaj Wilkins of New Brockton, collapsed during a sweltering practice.
His identity was confirmed by Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham, according to WDHN.com.
The Coffee County Coroner identified the 14-year-old as Semaj Wilkins (pictured).
The local school has since confirmed his identity as a freshman at New Brockton High School.
“I ask the community to continue to pray for his family, his teammates, his coaches and everyone 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 Level 3 heat risk, which is considered high. Temperatures in the area were hovering around 100 degrees at 4 p.m. according to local weather.
The players defended the school’s heat protocol while speaking to WDHN.
Last week, another high school football star died in front of his teammates after suffering a heart attack during practice.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, was about 40 minutes into practice Monday night at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after drinking water.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, was about 40 minutes into practice Monday night at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after a water break.
Two trainers attempted CPR on Taylor and called 911. Paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital where he died.
Taylor was a tenth grader who played football for the school, which has since remembered him as a “genuine and extraordinary student.”
His coaches and teammates also shared similar sentiments about the teenager.
A statement from the school said: ‘This 15-year-old was regarded as one of the most genuine and extraordinary students our staff have ever worked with.
“He was considered a ‘light’ to all who knew him and left a lasting impact.”
