Texas High School Junior Varsity Football Player Died On Track

[Sean_CaseyRules]

My prayers go out to his family...

http://www.click2houston.com/news/98...=22100412&qs=1

HOUSTON -- A junior varsity football player collapsed on his school's track Monday and later died, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Christopher Pichon, 14, collapsed on the track at Booker T. Washington High School after football practice.

Football players said practice was a 2-mile run.


"He was just running and he just fell back and collapsed," teammate Perrance Wespy said. "He passed out."

Emergency crews rushed Pichon to Northwest Medical Center, where he died.

Pichon's cause of death will be determined by the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office.

"I think it was basically an accident," Perrance said. "He didn't really have to run that hard. He just had to keep jogging, and he was basically just trying to push himself to the limit."

The school's flags were lowered to half-staff. Grief counselors were at the school to help students and staff cope with the death.

"He was a good person, an honor-roll student," Perrance said.

Pichon's family said the boy did not have any known medical conditions, but doctors said he might have had an enlarged heart.

"It's been difficult. We're still trying to understand -- still trying to make sense of it. It happened so suddenly," father Chris Pichon said.

"I'm trying to take it step by step. It is a big loss, so, from a mother's perspective, I'm trying to deal with it and be strong for my other children and my husband," mother Sonya Pichon said.

The parents said their son was the perfect son, a true leader strong in faith and devoted to helping others through church and school organizations.

"He was just a well-rounded person, and we're truly going to miss him. So, it's just hard for me as a mother to lose a child," Sonya Pichon said.

The family said their faith is carrying them through this difficult time.

"We're devastated. We're mourning his passing even though he's not lost, because we know where he is and we look forward to being together again one day," Chris Pichon said.

[Blimpie]

Sounds like another case of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy that will be diagnosed via an autopsy.