Lancaster football player dies after suffering heat emergency during practice

Lancaster football player dies after practice

A sophomore football player at Lancaster High School died after suffering a medical emergency during practice on Monday.

LANCASTER, Texas - A sophomore football player at Lancaster High School died after suffering a medical emergency during practice on Monday.

Lancaster Football Player Dies

What we know:

According to the Lancaster Independent School District, 15-year-old Preston Malone III complained that he wasn't feeling well during conditioning drills at Monday afternoon's junior varsity football practice.

He alerted his coaches, who quickly began following UIL heat safety protocols. The athletic trainers also called 911 and placed him in a cold tub to lower his body temperature. 

Malone was taken to Children’s Medical Center for observation, and doctors were initially hopeful that he’d recover.

However, his condition worsened, and Malone passed away in the hospital on Wednesday morning.

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What they're saying:

In a video on social media, Preston Malone Sr. tearfully said his grandson suffered heat stroke during practice and then later had a heart attack at the hospital.

"They were not outside. They were indoors. Nevertheless, he still suffered an extreme heat stroke," he said. 

Lancaster ISD said its coaches and athletic trainers were following all UIL and district heat safety protocols and procedures, which included things like moving practice indoors, creating a cool zone, taking water breaks, and more.

Lancaster ISD update on football player's death | FULL

The Lancaster Independent School District talks about the death of a student this week after a heat-related emergency during football practice. Preston Malone III was a sophomore on the Lancaster High School junior varsity team.

"When Preston and the EMS arrived at the hospital it was during that time… Preston was, he never lost consciousness and was able to have conversations with our athletic trainer, the EM staff, and our head coach. He shared with the coach he was even sorry for not finishing his workout," said Kimberly Simpson, a spokesperson for Lancaster ISD.

The district leaders described Malone as both athletically and academically gifted. He was enrolled in Lancaster High School's early college program. 

"They have a close knit family. Myself along with our leadership team, our superintendent and our executive cabinet members were all at the hospital with the family yesterday. We know the family. They actually attended a town hall meeting, they have been great supporters of our district. And again it’s a tragic situation," Simpson said.

Superintendent Dr. A.K. Perera said this is the first time she's had to deal with the loss of a student as a superintendent. And as a mother, her heart is broken.

"You never want to experience these things," she said. "Again, we’re going to provide the support that is necessary for our staff and students and the family."

What's next:

Grief counselors will be available on campus for Malone's classmates, teammates, teachers, and coaches.

Lancaster High School has also canceled football practice for the remainder of the week and canceled an upcoming scrimmage against North Forney High School.