|
|
|
State officials have confirmed that Montel Williams died of a heart condition.
Williams, 15, was a sophomore at Gurdon High School and died after collapsing during a practice session earlier this week. His body was sent to the crime lab for an autopsy. Results indicate he died of natural causes, though the specific problem with Williams' heart won't be known until further testing is completed, Assistant Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Director Richard Gallagher said. He said that will take about two weeks.
Clark County Coroner Tim Welch confirmed earlier today that the autopsy results had been returned to local officials but declined to release any details.
Williams collapsed about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, just more than an hour into the practice in which players were wearing all their gear, including pads. He was pronounced dead just before 10 p.m. at Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia, about 15 miles away.
Williams' last physical on May 25 revealed no signs of heart trouble, Gurdon Superintendent Ken Blackwell said.
The temperature in Arkadelphia was 93 degrees at 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, with a heat index of 110 degrees.
The Arkansas Activities Association adopted heat regulations for football teams after the death last year of a high school lineman, 16-year-old Tyler Davenport of Lamar. The guidelines limit practices to a maximum of three hours and require players to take a break of at least one hour between same-day practices.
The team will resume practices Saturday at 8 a.m., Blackwell said. The funeral for Williams will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Gurdon High School auditorium.
State officials have confirmed that Montel Williams died of a heart condition.
Williams, 15, was a sophomore at Gurdon High School and died after collapsing during a practice session earlier this week. His body was sent to the crime lab for an autopsy. Results indicate he died of natural causes, though the specific problem with Williams' heart won't be known until further testing is completed, Assistant Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Director Richard Gallagher said. He said that will take about two weeks.
Clark County Coroner Tim Welch confirmed earlier today that the autopsy results had been returned to local officials but declined to release any details.
Williams collapsed about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, just more than an hour into the practice in which players were wearing all their gear, including pads. He was pronounced dead just before 10 p.m. at Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia, about 15 miles away.
Williams' last physical on May 25 revealed no signs of heart trouble, Gurdon Superintendent Ken Blackwell said.
The temperature in Arkadelphia was 93 degrees at 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, with a heat index of 110 degrees.
The Arkansas Activities Association adopted heat regulations for football teams after the death last year of a high school lineman, 16-year-old Tyler Davenport of Lamar. The guidelines limit practices to a maximum of three hours and require players to take a break of at least one hour between same-day practices.
The team will resume practices Saturday at 8 a.m., Blackwell said. The funeral for Williams will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Gurdon High School auditorium.
