Boy, 14, dies after suffering cardiac arrest while running 5K at Florida high school

[former9thward]

A 14-year-old boy running a 5K in Florida collapsed and died after suffering cardiac arrest on Saturday, according to NBC South Florida.

Police said in a statement that they found the teen experiencing cardiac arrest when they arrived at the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) 5K at Everglades High School in Miramar, Florida.

After the teen arrived at Memorial Miramar Hospital, doctors pronounced him dead. Police haven’t publicly identified the student.

However, according to a GoFundMe, the student was Knox MacEwen, who participated in the JROTC program at Western High School in Davie, Florida, and volunteered at his church in the kids’ ministry. His mother, Julie, recently had cancer, and the family is still grappling with the lingering physical and financial effects of her illness, the GoFundMe said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/boy-14-dies-suffering-cardiac-arrest-running-5k-florida-high-school-rcna123916

[malaise]

1. So sad

What a handsome youngster
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/teen-suffers-cardiac-arrest-dies-while-running-5k-in-miramar/3151994/

[Hekate]

2. Same thing happened in my high school, about 1962 -63. The boy had no record of heart disease

The coach tried to save him…
It’s horrible to lose a child, my heart goes out to his family.

[pandr32]

3. Very sad.

Often heart disease is hidden, and unlikely to be checked for at that age.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. JROTC for a 14 year old?

Seems like someone dropped the ball here, big time. I think whoever was pushing them should be investigated.

[AkFemDem]

5. JROTC is a high school program, not actually affiliated with ROTC

(eg. no service required afterward) One of my kids did it in HS to get their leadership creds for college apps. It was basically physical fitness a few times a semester and a bunch of field trips to old moth balled ships and planes, and marching in the local town parades. It's an actual graded class and is pretty much an easy A. I would say 99% of the kids who did it in her school did not actually go into ROTC in college or the military. Basically, like Scouts but you get a grade and free days off from school for field trips.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I enrolled in HS as well.

14 is on the young side. We didn't have to do that level of physical activity unless we signed up for Recondo.

[yagotme]

6. (J) is for Junior. nt

[Prairie Gates]

8. Definitely some hidden/undiagnosed cardiovascular problem

A 14 year old should be able to run a 5k no problem.

That said, I think the cross country 13-14 yo distance is 4000 meters (i.e., 4k). But that's hard racing.

[Chainfire]

9. That is a very sad story.