Hollywood High School football player dies after collapsing during a game [Updated]

A football player from Hollywood High School's freshman-sophomore team who collapsed during a game Friday evening died this afternoon at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Ellen Morgan.

The student was pronounced dead about 3 p.m., Morgan said. She declined to identify the player pending parental approval.

[Updated at 11 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly gave his time of death as about 4 p.m.]

Morgan said counselors were sent to Hollywood High today and would also be available on Monday.

The details of what happened to the player during the game remain unclear.

Brad Ratcliff, varsity football coach at West Adams Prep, Hollywood High's opponent Friday, said today that he was told by his freshman-sophomore coach that the Hollywood player was jogging back to the sideline and collapsed with about two minutes left in the game.

Ratcliff said paramedics were called and took the player to Childrens Hospital. The game was halted.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Comments

[Sireneb]

Maybe it's just too hot to be playing football?

[csnyder]

For an in-depth look at the insidious effects head trauma, take a look at the latest issue of the New Yorker.

[csnyder]

See the latest issue of the New Yorker for an in- depth article about the dangers of head trauma. The effects are both insidious and cumulative.

[archie]

ooo thats lame

[live in LA]

So tragic, Rest In Peace young man.