On Monday, a well-liked high school football player in Virginia died during practice, which broke the hearts of everyone in the area.
These teens went to Hopewell High School. The school district says the accident happened when the team took a water break after doing “standard safety protocols” for about 40 minutes of light drills. The school in Hopewell City, PA, said the student fell 10 feet near the coach.
“Two coaches were nearby and started CPR right away and called 911.” “There was an AED on site, but the paramedics arrived quickly and before it was used,” the district said. “The paramedics provided additional medical support and transported the student to the hospital right away.”
The school board gave the student’s name, but Jayvion Taylor was named by the local news station WTVR. It was reported by The Progress-Index, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, that the player was 15 years old and in the 10th grade.
Orrin Besley, another player, told WTVR, “He was like one of the best guys I’ve ever met.”
Officials say the kid is “one of the most honest.”
For the district, Jayvion was a “light” and “one of the most genuine and remarkable students our staff has ever worked with.”
Officials say the kid is “one of the most honest”
For the district, Jayvion was a “light” and “one of the most genuine and remarkable students our staff have ever worked with.”
“Our coaches and team care about a lot more than football, and they are heartbroken.” “We respectfully ask that everyone at the school be given time to grieve the unimaginable loss of this young man,” the statement said.
WSLS reported that at a news conference on Tuesday, Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry said that the student had died.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hopewell High School football program,” he said.
Hopewell is home to the high school, which is 22 miles away from Richmond.
A petition shows that people are worried about
Friends and family of the teen came together this week for an emotional prayer service in the school gym to remember and honor his life. WWBT says that his aunt said the reason of his death has not been found yet. On Saturday night, there will be a balloon launch at the Hopewell School Football Field.
A petition on Change.org that was started on Tuesday said that Jayvion’s death could have been avoided and that the football practice took place in “extreme conditions.” The petitioner also said that the school was hot and about 90 degrees that day.
“The air conditioning system, which fails every year, was again broken, leaving the floors wet with sweat and humidity,” it said. “Despite considering the option of closing the school, the decision was made to keep it open.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch says that on Monday, it got as hot as 88 degrees and felt like 90 to 98 degrees.
In the statement, the school district also said that officials had finished the process of hiring athletic trainers. The services are set to start at the beginning of next week, August 12. Tuesday the school was closed “due to air conditioning issues,” but classes started again on Wednesday, according to the school.
The letter asked for several things, such as improving the air conditioning and letting parents and guardians know about things like gas leaks, broken air conditioning, and lockdown drills.
