A high school football star died in front of his teammates after suffering a heart attack during practice.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, was around 40 minutes into practice on Monday night at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after a water break.
Two coaches attempted CPR on Taylor and dialed 911 with paramedics arriving and taking him to a hospital where he died.
Taylor was a 10th grade student who played football for the school, which has since remembered him as being a ‘genuine and remarkable student’.
His coaches and teammates also shared similar sentiments about the teenager.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, was around 40 minutes into practice on Monday night at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after a water break
Taylor was a 10th grade student who played football for the school, who have since remembered him as being a ‘genuine and remarkable student’
Speaking with WTVR, fellow player Orrin Besley told the outlet: ‘He was straight positive, like one of the best guys I’ve ever know.’
Teammate Cory Seacat had been on the field when Taylor collapsed, saying: ‘I went to the back of the field, and I saw everybody around here.
‘[I] couldn’t get close to him. I heard it was Jay, we had to take a knee. They told us to get to the locker room. We just prayed.’
While classmate Chase Stith added: ‘I thought he still was going to make it, and fight through this, because he’s one of the strongest people I know, I thought he was going to make it through it.
‘It didn’t matter who you were. If you were one of the most known people of the school, or if you were somebody who wasn’t talkative, he would try to get to know you and understand you.’
A statement from the school said: ‘This 15-year-old young man was considered one of the most genuine and remarkable students our staff have ever worked with.
‘He was considered a ‘light’ to all who met him and left a lasting impact.’
Two coaches attempted CPR on Taylor and dialed 911 with paramedics arriving and taking him to a hospital where he died
His family have also since confirmed that Taylor passed away after a heart attack, telling CBS 6 they appreciated the community support.
Head coach of the Virginia Tech college football team Brent Pry said during an unrelated press conference that he sent his prayers were with the community.
Pry said: ‘I’m not sure how many of you are aware… about the tragedy there yesterday with one of their young football players.
‘I can’t imagine for that team, the coaches, the players, the high school, the community … so thoughts and prayers there with [the coach] and his team.’
Earlier in the week, classmates and family gathered in the school gym to honor the teenager with a balloon release scheduled on Saturday night.