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15-year-old high school football player from Kansas dies

A 15-year-old high school student from Kansas died two days after suffering a medical emergency. The player reportedly collapsed during practice. It is the third case in the US this month.

On Wednesday, August 14, at approximately 5:32 p.m., Johnson County Med-Act was dispatched to Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, Kansas, about 10 miles south of Kansas City, Missouri, after a medical emergency was reported, according to an emergency services news release.

When emergency services arrived, the 15-year-old boy was in critical, life-threatening condition. He was subsequently taken to a local hospital, emergency services said.

“We have learned that the patient has passed away,” Johnson County Med-Act Captain Joe Folsom said in a statement to USA TODAY. “MED-ACT would like to extend our condolences to the patient's family, friends and other loved ones.”

The Shawnee Mission School District identified the student as Ovet Gomez-Regalado and a second-grader at Shawnee Mission High School, according to local station KSHB-TV.

Football-related death: 14-year-old Alabama high school football player collapses during practice and dies

The Shawnee Mission School District is reportedly sending letters to families about the death of a football player

The principal of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School sent the following letter to parents regarding Gomez-Regalado's death, according to local station KDFW-TV, which obtained the letter.

“I am writing to share some difficult news with you. This morning we learned of the passing of Ovet Gomez Regalado, a sophomore here at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School,” the letter said. “As you can imagine, this has been an extremely difficult time for the family. Ovet was such a warm and wonderful student who touched the hearts of so many in our community.”

The letter goes on to say that many of Gomez-Regalado's classmates “need time to process what happened.” The school district is taking steps to help its community cope with this tragic loss.

“School and district staff are available to talk to anyone who is struggling to manage their emotions around this difficult topic,” the letter said. “If your child would like to talk to someone, please encourage them to tell an adult and we will help.”

USA TODAY reached out to the Shawnee Mission School District but did not receive a response.

This month, 3 deaths related to high school football were reported

Gomez-Regalado's death is the third reported death of a high school football player in 12 days.

According to the school district in Hopewell, Virginia, 15-year-old Javion Taylor died on August 5 after participating in light exercise for about 40 minutes.

Fourteen-year-old Semaj Wilkins suffered a medical emergency during an afternoon football practice in Alabama on August 13.

According to experts, August is the “deadliest month” in terms of heat

“August is the deadliest month for high school athletes because of the heat,” said Madeleine Orr, associate professor of sport ecology at the University of Toronto in Ontario and author of “Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Transforming Sport.”

“Heat stroke doesn't happen out of the blue. There are outward signs,” Orr said.

Even if there are no visible signs for humans, the athlete would feel it, Orr said.

“The athlete should not have a problem telling a coach or trainer, 'I don't feel good,'” she said.

Orr and others are concerned about the increasing risks posed to athletes of all ages by global warming.

The months of July and August are the most common months for heat-related deaths among athletes, Orr said.

Since 2000, 77 heat-related deaths have been reported

According to a USA TODAY database, at least 77 heat-related deaths have been reported among athletes since 2000. Seventy-five percent of those deaths occurred in the months of July and August, and 65 percent of the deaths involved teenagers. The numbers do not include recent deaths.

“The temperatures are higher and the athletes are not yet used to playing in tough conditions,” Orr said. “This is the time when the athletes are least prepared and it is the hottest time.”

“The athletes are returning to training a little less fit than they were a few months ago and are not yet used to the current heat.”

Experts say heat-related deaths in the United States largely go unreported. One reason for this is that the official signing the death certificate may not have knowledge of the circumstances that led to the hospitalization or death.

It's “really hard to track deaths from exertional heat stroke,” Orr said. “At that point, you have to know the internal body temperature.”

“If coaches don't know what to check, the illness may be due to something else by the time the athlete gets to the hospital,” she said.

GoFundMe account opened for Kansas high school football player

A family friend, Candie Dearing, has set up a GoFundMe account to help the Gomez-Regalado family.

In a post on the account, Dearing said that Gomez-Regalado is his parents' youngest son.

“Ovet was only 15 years old and one of the kindest people,” Dearing wrote. “He was smiling with joy with every hug. He was loved by everyone who knew him. Let us all come together and show them our support and help them as they grieve this great loss in their family.”

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on USA TODAY's National Trending Team. Ahjané covers breaking news, auto recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

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