High School Football Player Dies During Practice (VIDEO)

A 17-year-old high school football player passed away during practice last week.

“Brandon High School football player Phillip Laster, 17, died Monday after collapsing during an afternoon football practice, according to one of his teammates,” Clarion Ledger reported.

“He got tired to the point where he started throwing up, and he fell out and the coaches were all trying to see what to do,” said Jarvis Durr, one of Laster’s teammates.

“They started doing CPR on him and all the ambulances came and I guess it was just too late.”

The cause of death has not been released.

Exactly 21 years after Korey Stringer died, a high school football player collapsed and died at practice.

His name is Phillip Laster. He is 17. #athletesATriskhttps://t.co/pGgBNVS1Gv

— Stephanie Kuzydym (@stephkuzy) August 2, 2022

Brandon High School football player dies, district confirms https://t.co/ULSGn8mwN8

— 16 WAPT News (@16WAPTNews) August 2, 2022

Mississippi high school football player dies during practice https://t.co/fM1w3jhOv5

— WREG News Channel 3 (@3onyourside) August 2, 2022

Rankin County Superintendent Dr. Scott Rimes released a statement saying, “We are saddened and heartbroken by the sudden loss of Brandon High School student athlete, Phillip Laster. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. In the days to come, RCSD will offer support to the family, Brandon High School team members, coaches, classmates, teachers, and administrators as we all grieve the loss of Phillip.”

The Clarion Ledger added:

Rankin County Coroner David Ruth said no injuries were detected, and that there is no timetable on having more information.

“He’s being held at the medical examiner’s office for that ruling. So you know, until they complete the autopsy, and, you know, I mean, there’s a series of things that if they see something immediate, then it’s possible that we’ll know soon, but if they have to do histology and other extensive testing then it could take a while,” Ruth said. “I can’t put a timeline on it.”

cont.

Brandon High School Football Coach Sam Williams has not spoken publicly about Laster’s death.

Temperatures Monday afternoon were in the low 90s in the Brandon area with heat indices at or above 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Jackson.

According to the Rankin County School District, all athletes are required to have a physical prior to being allowed to participate in athletics. However, there are no sport-specific physicals.

Durr said the team was doing conditioning on Monday afternoon when Laster collapsed around 4:30 p.m.

WJTV 12 News aired this video report: