Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Mourns Loss of 11-Year-Old

MIAMI — Miami-Dade schools chief Alberto M. Carvalho took to social media on Wednesday night to mourn the death of an 11-year-0ld boy who collapsed at track practice and passed away a short time later.

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"No deeper pain than suffering loss of one's child," the superintendent tweeted. "Tonight, we mourn alongside the family of a boy who passed away following track practice."

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Capt. Ignatius Carroll of Miami Fire Rescue told Patch that first responders arrived at the track of Miami Northwestern Senior High School shortly after 6 p.m. only to find the young boy "barely breathing" and unconscious.

"Moments later, he stopped breathing and CPR was started," Carroll explained. "Paramedics continued life-saving efforts all the way to Jackson Memorial Hospital."

Carroll said that family and friends told emergency personnel that the child had been running a warm-up lap before starting practice.

"When he collapsed, several kids could be heard telling him to get up," Carroll added. "When adults realized he was not moving, 9-1-1 was called."

Carroll said that the boy was in "extremely critical" condition when he arrived at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where pediatric staff continued life-saving efforts.

"At this time, it is unknown what caused this healthy young boy to collapse," Carroll explained.

The name of the child was not released.

Photo of Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho courtesy Miami-Dade County Public Schools