High School Football Player Collapses, Dies in Florida

A high school football player died after collapsing during practice.

Anthony Hilton, 16, a junior at Robert E. Lee High, collapsed about 4 p.m. Wednesday. He was rushed to St. Vincent’s hospital but was pronounced dead at 4:50 p.m., said hospital spokeswoman Candy Bowen.

The Duval County Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday that a cause of death hadn’t been determined.

Hilton, a running back, and his teammates were in their third day of practice when he collapsed. He was not wearing full pads because Florida High School Activities Association rules restrict teams to helmets and shorts for the first three practice days of the season.

Hilton was in a conditioning or agility drill when he collapsed, said Lt. Rick Graham of the Duval County Sheriff’s Office.

Graham said Athletic Director Gary Warner told him the player had passed the physical examination all players must undergo before participating in practice.

Hilton also participated in track and wrestling.

According to the latest report issued by the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, 17 deaths of high school and junior high students last year were directly or indirectly related to football.