Stetson University Football Player Collapses & Dies On The Practice Field

via Stetson University

Nick Blakely, a 19-year-old student athlete on the Stetson University football team, died after collapsing in practice on Monday, August 28.

According to reports, Blakely went to the sidelines early into practice saying that he wasn’t feeling well. As he was drinking water, he apparently had a seizure and collapsed. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The DeLand, Florida police report stated that Blakely was practicing at the Stetson Athletic Training Center when he began feeling “dizzy and light-headed.” His pulse became rapid, so he was pulled from practice, and as he was drinking water, he collapsed from a seizure.

via News 6:

A trainer who called 911 said Blakely was unresponsive and struggling to breathe. CPR was performed on Blakely, who was taken to Florida Hospital DeLand, where he died, officials said.

Coach Roger Hughes said Monday’s practice was light and didn’t involve any hitting. He said trainers monitored over Blakely when he said he wasn’t feeling well. He described the teen’s death as a tragedy.

Blakely had no known medical conditions that could have caused his sudden death, according to Hughes. Players are tested for the sickle cell trait and while Blakely’s results weren’t immediately available, Hughes said he was tested and he wouldn’t have been on the field if he had that trait or any other complications in his medical history.

Dr. Wendy B. Libby, the President of Stetson University, released a statement on Blakely’s passing:

It is with great sadness that I inform the university that Nicholas Adam Blakely, a 19-year-old sophomore accounting major from Lawrenceville, Georgia, passed away this evening.

Nicholas, known as Nick to his friends, is a member of the Stetson University football team and was on the sidelines shortly after practice began this evening when he complained of not feeling well and collapsed. Nick was transported by ambulance to Florida Hospital DeLand.

Nick’s parents have been notified. Coach Roger Hughes has informed the football team. Athletic Director Jeff Altier is informing members of the Athletic Department, and the university is contacting Nick’s faculty.

Counselors have been on hand at the Athletic Training Center with the football team. If you need counseling, you can contact them at (386) 822-8900 from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM. If you are in urgent need to speak to a counselor outside of those hours, you can contact Public Safety at (386) 822-7300 and ask to speak with the on-call counselor.

More information will follow shortly regarding a memorial.

An informal gathering of Nick’s friends will be held at Allen Hall on Steton University’s campus on Tuesday, August 29, at 12 PM.

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