New York high schooler dies after 'medical emergency' after first football practice of season
A 17-year-old high school student in New York died on Monday after suffering a medical emergency after the first day of football practice, according to the Times Herald-Record.
Miguel Lugo, per the report, “suffered a medical emergency” after Wallkill High School — which sits nearly 80 miles north of New York City — held its first football practice of the spring season. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. A cause of death has yet to be determined.
Heartbreak and tragedy facing our community with the passing of senior Miguel Lugo. Deepest condolences to Miguel’s family. His kindness and compassion for others were always on display, and his charming smile will forever be missed in our halls. #wallkillathletics pic.twitter.com/Hf855D0bdo
— Wallkill Athletics (@WSHS_Panthers) March 2, 2021
A GoFundMe page had been set up for Lugo, who was listed as a 6-foot, 180-pound linebacker.
“He was a vibrant and healthy boy who lit up any room that he walked in,” his aunt, Angela Morales, wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Now his family is left here to wonder why. Why Miguel? He had a heart of gold and anyone who knew him loved him dearly. … We will never know why the Lord took him home so soon, clearly he needed an angel so he took one of the best.
New York state had pushed last year’s fall season to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Monday was the first day that the “Fall II” season could start practicing.
“This is extremely sad,’’ said New York Section 9 football committee chairman David Coates, via the Times Herald-Record. “You hate to see it happen to anybody, but being so young, Miguel had his whole life ahead of him. … Our heart and prayers go out to the Lugo family and to the Wallkill community. Just sad, an extremely sad day for Section 9 football.’’
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