A 14-year-old football player in Connecticut died after collapsing at practice.
According to WSAZ, Jahkye Gayle, 14, a member of the Bloomfield Junior Warhawks, a Pop Warner football team, collapsed during a non-contact warmup drill at practice last month, Trevor Ford, the football team’s president, said.
“It was just like a walk through, essentially just light jogging. Nothing strenuous or anything like that,” Ford said.
Staff and emergency medical personnel responded to the collapse at the scene, but Gayle couldn’t be revived.
On Saturday (November 30), hundreds of loved ones and community members gathered for a vigil honoring Gayle’s memory on the football field, lighting candles and releasing balloons in the sky.
“It’s hard losing my brother, someone I shared a room with, did everything with, and grew up with. He was overall a great person who changed people with his presence,” Gayle’s brother, Lamar, said.
Gayle was known as one of the most tenured players in the youth football program and was set to receive a lifetime achievement award at an upcoming banquet. A GoFundMe campaign was created to help raise money for Gayle’s funeral experiences.
“Jahkye was a vibrant, talented, and beloved son, friend, and teammate whose light touched everyone around him. He was a proud member of the Bloomfield Jr. Warhawks, where his dedication, sportsmanship, and love for football inspired his teammates and coaches alike,” the fundraising page says.
Officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
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