A 15-year-old cross-country runner from Tennessee tragically died Tuesday while jogging in his neighborhood.
Tristen Franklin, of Sycamore High School in suburban Nashville, collapsed while on an afternoon run as temperatures exceeded 100 degrees.
His neighbor, Troy Simpkins, said he had seen Franklin on his usual run and didn’t think anything was wrong until another neighbor frantically called her husband to help the sick teen.
Despite life-saving efforts, Franklin died from his injuries. The cause of his death has not yet been revealed as the coroner continues his investigation.
The community mourned the loss of the young athlete and expressed its condolences to his family and friends.
Tristen Franklin, 15, of Sycamore High School in Cheatham County, collapsed while jogging in the afternoon when temperatures were above 100 degrees.
His neighbor, Troy Simpkins, said he had seen Franklin on his usual run and didn’t think anything unusual until another neighbor called her husband to help the dying teen.
“I feel sorry for them. It’s very sad. She was very young and had her whole life ahead of her,” Simpkins said. “Tell the people in your life how much you love them.”
The Cheatham County School District released a statement expressing grief and offering psychological support to students and staff affected by the loss.
“Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family and friends during this difficult time. The impact of such a loss is immeasurable,” a spokesperson for the school district shared.
Other young athletes have had fatal incidents on the field this summer as sweltering temperatures continue to rise.
Earlier this month, 15-year-old Ovet Gomez Regalado, a high school football player from Missouri, 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, was found in critical condition when Johnson County Med-Act crews responded to the school on Aug. 14 at 5:25 p.m., after reporters reported a “medical emergency.”
Other young athletes have had fatal incidents on the field this summer as temperatures have remained stifling.
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.”
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