A 15-year-old high school football player died after collapsing at a practice Monday.
Jayvion Taylor of Hopewell High School was a junior varsity football player who went down while the rest of his team took a water break.
The coaches tried to save HS football player Jayvion Taylor
According to an article from WSAZ, an anonymous school employee said that the school had been without an athletic trainer since the previous school year. As a result, it was two coaches who tried to give Taylor CPR in an attempt to save his life until paramedics arrived.
“That comfort of having a trained medical professional on site, just in case anything were to happen, was always there. But then, they cut the trainer,” the employee said.
“This is our worst nightmare,” they said. “I’m not saying having a trainer would have saved that young man’s life, but I feel like it would have at least definitely given us a better fighting chance.”
“Some people need to be held responsible,” they said.
According to Hopewell High School, a contract for a potential athletic trainer would start on Aug. 12, yet there is still a job posting for an athletic trainer that has been up since July 29.
Condolences for HS Football player Jayvion Taylor flooded social media
Hopewell High School released a statement on HS football player Jayvion Taylor:
“He [Taylor] was the most genuine and remarkable student” and that he was “a light to all who met him.”
Even a nearby college football team, the Virginia Tech Hokie, paid their respects via social media along with many other fans.
Our thoughts & prayers go out to the Hopewell High School football team, school, and community 🧡 pic.twitter.com/Qj30Cxf0HD
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) August 6, 2024
The incident, which was likely preventable had athletic trainers been present, has people in the community saddened and angered and asking their respective high schools about their athletic trainer situation.
Prayers for the community
— Tim Guilliams (@rkehokie) August 7, 2024
Saddened by this….
Can you provide what oversight (if any) VHSL has regarding practices and having trainers on site?
These young men had to practice after sitting in a hot school building w/o Air Conditioning all day. What is your protocol for events such as this?— Alex (@AlexBryant804) August 7, 2024
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I pray for God’s comforting mercy cover the family.
— Barry Gray (@73SUMMERSET) August 7, 2024
How awful! My deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, and the entire Hopewell HS community.
— Mr. Holtzman (@Mr_Holtzman) August 6, 2024
Prayers for the family and rip man
— Hunter Hottle (@HunterHottle43) August 7, 2024
The school is offering grief counseling to staff and students as a result of the tragic loss of HS football player Jayvion Taylor.
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