Preexisting health issues contributed to the death of a Burke County High School football player who collapsed during practice Sept. 22, according to autopsy results released Thursday.
“He had hypertensive heart disease and he went into pulmonary edema,” Burke County Coroner Susan Salemi said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “His heart failed and his lungs failed.”
Salemi said school officials "did everything to save" 17-year-old Roddrick "Rod" Williams, including using the school's defibrillator on the field. She said the death has shocked the student body at the rural school south of Augusta.
“It’s just a real eye-opener for these kids,” she said. Salemi said there were no drugs present in Williams system.
Williams was rushed to the hospital following his collapse but never recovered. He died Monday. Students, faculty and community members have mourned his death with a series of events, including a vigil at the school football stadium Wednesday evening.
Funeral services are set for Saturday in Waynesboro.
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