A 14-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during a five-kilometer run. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police say. The principal of the high school where the race was organized writes about a “great loss.”
As reported by NBC News, 14-year-old Knox McEwen fell during Saturday’s five-kilometer run organized by the Youth Reserve Training Corps (JROTC) at a high school in Miramar, Florida. Local police said in a statement that upon arrival, officers found a JROTC cadet who had suffered a cardiac arrest. The 14-year-old was taken to a hospital in Miramar, where, however, doctors declared him dead. A spokeswoman for the Miramar police confirmed in an interview with the Miami Herald that “the death was due to natural causes.”
According to the Miami Herald, approximately 700 JROTC cadets took part in Saturday’s event at the high school and tried their hand at several events “in hopes of qualifying for the JROTC state championships.” Jimmy Arrojo, director of the facility where the competition took place, referred to MacEwen’s death in a statement quoted by NBC News. “I want to express my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones, teachers and classmates who are mourning this great loss,” he wrote.
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The 14-year-old took part in the run. Dead
Shortly after the teenager’s death, a fundraiser was organized on the popular crowdfunding platform GoFundMe to “cover funeral costs and allow Knox’s parents, Kevin and Julie, to take time off from work while they mourn.” The fundraiser description described MacEwen as a JROTC cadet, children’s ministry volunteer and “beloved brother, son, grandson, nephew and friend” who was a “respected member of his community.” By 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the collection was supported by 853 donors with an amount of over PLN 67,000. dollars (approx. PLN 280,000 – ed.).
Knox MacEwenGoFundMe
NBC News, Miami Herald, GoFundMe
Main photo source: GoFundMe