A 17-year-old high school student in Ohio tragically died after collapsing on a football field while being introduced as a homecoming queen contender at her school on Friday.
The Mapleton Local Schools said that Breanne McKean, a senior student at Mapleton High School in Ashland, died due to a “medical emergency” that occurred prior to Mapleton’s football game against South Central.
He said that her daughter touched many lives and “was everything to us,” adding that she excelled in multiple sports, including volleyball, basketball, and softball.
The football game was suspended at halftime when the teams and student body were notified of Ms. McKean’s death. Grief counselors were immediately available to provide support to student, the school said.
“A special thank you goes out to the South Central community, administration, coaches, players, and fans for their compassion and support last night,” it added.
The school also canceled its homecoming dance scheduled for Saturday and all athletic events through Wednesday.
Her death bore some similarities to the case of an 18-year-old student named Hunter Palmer who died and collapsed during track practice at a high school in Nebraska in May.
Mr. Palmer was a senior student at Wisner-Pilger High School. He was rushed to a nearby hospital after his collapse, but died shortly after. Information regarding the cause of his death remains unknown.
The multitalented student also played basketball and was an all-district running back in football. He had signed with Midland University for football, and was active in wrestling, golf, and baseball.
A day before his death, Mr. Palmer competed at a meet and cleared his personal best in the high jump, winning the event. He also participated in a relay race, with his team coming in second.
