Houston High School Freshman Dies in Pre-Practice Routine

A 14-year-old freshman tight end from a respected Houston prep program became the 13th football-related fatality of the year after collapsing during a practice.

Miguel Ramirez of Aldine High collapsed during agility and stretching drills at approximately 3:30 p.m. Emergency breathing procedures and CPR were administered by the school’s head athletic trainer, Robert Heaton.

The player registered a pulse during Heaton’s treatment, but paramedics were unable to sustain it and Ramirez was pronounced dead at 3:50 p.m., according to Ruth Mische, a spokeswoman for Doctors Hospital Parkway + Tidwell.

The Harris County (Texas) Medical Examiner’s office has completed an autopsy, but results are still pending.

Aldine’s freshman team, which was practicing Tuesday with the temperature at 87 degrees, is supervised by assistant varsity coaches. The school’s head coach, Bill Smith, who has held the position for 27 years, was not available for comment Wednesday.

Ramirez’s father, David, visited Aldine players Wednesday and encouraged the freshman team to play its scheduled game today against La Porte High, according to the Houston Chronicle.