The sudden death of a Caldwell County teen during football practice shocked those who knew him.
Luke Killian, 16, of Collettsville was practicing at Freedom Park on Thursday with some of his Morganton Mountaineers football teammates when he collapsed, officials confirmed Friday.
Burke County Emergency Services said it dispatched an ambulance to the scene at 6:11 p.m. after receiving a call about possible heat exhaustion. Killian was taken to Grace Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Mountaineers is made of home-schooled teens ages 12 to 18, according to the team’s website.
Freedom Principal Ken Pritchard told the News Herald that the event was not sponsored by the school and Killian was not a Freedom student.
“It is a terrible thing,” Pritchard said. He later added: “It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of this happening here.”
Mountaineers Coach Doug Deitz said the Pioneer Football League did not sanction the practice. Instead, Killian and some of his teammates decided to practice on their own.
Deitz said he talked to several of the other players with Killian and they told the coach that the incident happened while they were doing warm-up exercises.
“They had just done some sit-ups and were getting ready to do some lunges,” he said. “When he (Killian) went down to one knee, he made a sound like a cough and just kind of fell over.”
The players on the scene called EMS, Deitz said. While waiting for an ambulance, one of Killian’s teammates administered CPR while his father, a doctor, walked him through the procedure by phone.
The news of Killian’s death stunned the coach.
“It’s like they (the players) are all my sons,” he said. “It’s gut wrenching to have this happen.”
Deitz said he wishes he could coach a team of all Killians.
“He was a people person and always the first to start a conversation,” Deitz recalled. “He was a good kid to be around.”
It will take a long time for Deitz and his team to recover, he said.
“He had a heart as big as all outdoors,” he said. “I am particularly glad I got to know him.”
Killian’s family is just as kind, he added.
“I have never met a family quite like that,” Deitz said.
People in Killian’s hometown were shocked at news of Killian’s death.
Greg Duncan, a store owner in Collettsville, told The News Herald news partner WSOC Channel 9 that the 16-year-old often stopped by his shop.
“You don't expect nothing like that,” Duncan said. “We just saw him the day before yesterday.”
Glynis James, a friend of Killian, told WSOC that it was a shock to learn the teen had died.
“He just collapsed,” James said. “We don't know why because he was very healthy.”
Deitz said that Killian never failed a physical and always performed well on the field, no matter how long or tough a game was. The 16-year-old played for the Mountaineers for four years without any issues.
Killian’s death marks the first time a Mountaineer or any member of the league has died during football practice, the coach said, official or otherwise.
Deitz said he always cautions his players to stay hydrated and keeps plenty of water around during practice.
“I really push the issue because I am big on staying hydrated,” he said.
Deitz said he does not believe a heat stroke was likely and he hopes an autopsy is performed and a cause of death is released.
Follow this story on Morganton.com or read Sunday’s The News Herald for more on this developing story.
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