A Port St. Joe (Fla.) High School football player died Friday after collapsing during a game at Liberty County High School.
The 18-year-old senior Chance Gainer was playing cornerback when a play went to the opposite side of the field. Athletic director and vice principal Tim Davis told CBS 42 that Gainer was running toward the play when he collapsed.
“He just went to the ground suddenly,” Davis said.
Coaches ran to Gainer's aid and signaled paramedics. Gainer was then taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he later died.
Davis said there were about four minutes left in Friday's game when administrators learned of Gainer's death. The decision was made to let the game finish, with Port St. Joe winning 28-0. Gainer’s teammates were then told of his death.
“The scene was heartbreaking. Parents came down on the field to comfort their kids. Such a helpless feeling,” Davis said.
Police escorted the Port St. Joe team bus to the hospital where Gainer had died before the players returned home.
Gainer was an honors student and had recently visited Vanderbilt University to discuss attending there, Gulf County School superintendent Jim Norton told WJHG-TV.
The National Federation of State High School Associations said last week that six high school players had died within the past month, four of them from heart issues and two from being hit.
