HOPEWELL, Virginia (Gray News/WWBT) – Following his collapse during practice, a 15-year-old junior varsity football player from a Virginia high school passed away, leaving the town in shock.
According to WWBT, a Hopewell High School student named Jayvion Taylor passed out during football practice on Monday night as his team was taking a water break following roughly 40 minutes of drills.
Before paramedics arrived and sent the adolescent to the hospital, two coaches tried CPR on the teenager. He didn’t make it.
On Tuesday, the 15-year-old’s grieving friends gave each other hugs in the field. Was described as cheerful, witty, and a friend who was always there for his pals.
“He was the most genuine and remarkable student,” the high school stated in a statement. “He was a light to all who met him.”
On X, even the football squad from Virginia Tech showed its respects.
But according to a school staff member who wished to remain anonymous, the school hasn’t had an athletic trainer since the previous academic year. They claim someone more qualified to deal with situations like these would be a trainer.
“The knowledge that there was always a qualified medical expert nearby in case something happened was reassuring. However, they then fired the trainer,” the worker claimed.
The school states that an athletic services contract will start on August 12. On their website, there is still a job posting for an athletic trainer from July 29.
No member of the school staff, the employee claims, ever wants to go through this.
They declared, “This is our worst nightmare.” “I feel like it would have given us a better fighting chance, but I’m not saying having a trainer would have saved that young man’s life.”
The staff member is now requesting accountability from the institution.
They declared, “Some people need to be held accountable.”
The high school was closed on Tuesday due to problems with its air conditioning system, but staff and students may still get grief counseling there. The same services will be available when it opens on Wednesday.