Las Vegas High School Student Athlete Dies After Sudden Collapse

Just days after the NFL’s Monday Night Football game cancellation due to the Buffalo Bill’s Damar Hamlin’s sudden collapse from cardiac issues, a similar scene unfolded at a Las Vegas High School. On Friday, the school’s principal acknowledged the young athlete didn’t survive in a letter to parents, staff, and the school community.

With deepest sympathy, I write to inform you of the recent passing of one of our students.

Last night, a student suffered a medical emergency during an athletic event. Staff immediately began providing medical aid and continued until paramedics arrived. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that the student passed away. The school and entire district mourn the loss of this young life.

Las Vegas Desert Oasis High School Letter to Parents

Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara also released a statement Friday morning.

Statement from CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jesus F. Jara in regards to the passing of a Desert Oasis High School student: pic.twitter.com/plAJck42Tu

— CCSD (@ClarkCountySch) January 6, 2023

While the student’s identity has not been released more details about the tragedy were provided by a parent present at the Thursday sporting event who published that the game was a girl’s football game and the student was just 16 years old. Alphelia Phifer-Hill, was not only present at the game as a parent but also worked to assist in resuscitating the girl.

She wrote:

Today was the first time ever, in my 26 years of nursing that I had to do CPR on a kid. I was always used to a hospital setting. This 16 y/o female collapsed after the girl’s flag football game. I ran to the field to help, everything that could have went wrong happened, the AED pads from the school were not sticking, everyone was panicking, it was cold and rainy. Due to my experience, I was able to stay calm and performed compressions. We shocked her 3 times. Her family was not at the game but finally arrived. We were able to get a heart rhythm. She was transferred to the hospital by ambulance. Later to find out she had to be intubated. Moral of the story she died less than 30 minutes ago. She was my daughter’s teammate. Love your kids, you never know when death is coming.