((HT: WLTX-TV Columbia))
Hartsville, South Carolina Mayor Mel Pennington says the police and fire chief confirmed 17-year-old high school student Ronald Rouse died on the football field last night. The 6'3" 305-pound, senior offensive lineman was holding his chest when he collapsed.
He had gotten some help from trainers on a play where he would, eventually, get up and get help off the field, but he collapsed again on the sidelines.
Rouse was given CPR and shocked with a defibrillator before the on-site ambulance took him to the hospital.
Hartsville and Crestwood played the rest of the first half. Hartsville was up 27-7, and the school went on with their homecoming festivities.
The players didn't return to the field for the second half, and Hartsville High Principal Charles Burry announced over the PA that the game was suspended because of concern over Rouse at the time.
Here's the early breaking news...
Mayor Pennington ordered flags be flown at half-staff, and asked Hartsville residents "to take a moment and ask God to be with this family, to help them find peace in this chaos, and to help this team deal with the grief and shock of losing a brother."
A preliminary autopsy should have some early answers later in the weekend.
PM UPDATE: The preliminary autopsy revealed that Rouse suffered from a sudden, irregular heartbeat due to an enlarged heart...
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