A 17-year-old girl has died after she collapsed while taking a penalty kick during a soccer game.
Maddie Potts went down on the field in Rhode Island on Saturday and died in hospital just hours later from a brain aneurysm.
The popular Chariho High School senior was captain of the soccer team and a member of the school’s lacrosse team.
Maddie Potts, 17, collapsed on the field in Rhode Island on Saturday and died in hospital just hours later from a brain aneurysm
Chariho Regional School District Superintendent Barry Ricci said her death was unrelated to the game.
‘She was kicking a penalty kick, and she just collapsed,’ he told the Westerly Sun.
‘Everything that could be done for her on the field was done. There was a parent who was a doctor who resuscitated her.’
Ricci said he left the hospital at about 11.30pm on Saturday believing Potts would recover and was shocked to learn that she had died overnight.
‘(She) represented the very best of our school as an artist, an athlete, a classmate, a teammate and a friend,’ he said.
Potts (left) was taking a penalty kick when she collapsed during the game on Saturday
The popular Chariho High School senior was captain of the soccer team and a member of the school’s lacrosse team
The teen’s father, Dan Potts, is a teacher at Chariho Middle School.
‘She was the heart of both teams, always enthusiastic, a great leader, had an amazing work ethic and always was a phenomenal teammate,’ Brittany Godbout, head coach of the girls’ soccer team, said.
‘All of the girls, from seniors to freshmen, looked up to her and idolized her. She will be impossible to replace, but we will utilize the energy and spirit and work ethic that she brought every day to practice and games throughout the rest of our season.’
Tributes have been flowing in from the devastated community and a candlelight vigil will be held for Potts on Monday night.
Ricci said counseling would be available to students and staff in the middle and high schools starting Monday.
Tributes have been flowing in for Maddie (second on left) from the devastated community and a candlelight vigil will be held for Potts on Monday night