CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A Sebastian River High School football player who lost his life during a summer practice at Camp Blanding died of heat stroke, according to an autopsy report released Monday.
Fourteen-year-old freshman William Shogran Jr.'s death was ruled accidental.
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The team from Indian River County was practicing the morning of Aug. 13 when Shogran became ill. Authorities said that during the practice on the parade ground of the Florida National Guard base, Shogran headed for the sidelines, complaining of being dizzy.
The head coach said he provided William with water and helped him take off his shoulder pads and other equipment. When William began vomiting and having breathing problems, someone called 911.
When rescuers arrived, William was unresponsive, and they began CPR. He was taken to Shands Starke Regional Medical Center, but he could not be revived.
According to an investigative report, the air temperature at the time was 79 degrees, but Shogran's internal body temperature was 107 degrees.
DOCUMENT: William Shogran autopsy
That morning, a coach overheard a conversation between Shogran and his bunkmate about him throwing up on his bunkmate's bed. According to the report, when the coach asked if he was OK, "he advised him that he was fine" and told the coach "he believed he just drank too much water too fast," according to the report.
Shogran's parents told investigators this was his first time playing football and he was "a gamer who was rarely physically active." Shogran's father is a state trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol.
St. Vincent's emergency room doctor Jim Aiello never treated Shogran but said because the teen seemed to be new to this level of physical activity, especially in the heat, it raises concerns.
"If this particular boy was ill beforehand or possibly dehydrated or taking meds that I'm unaware of, that may have augmented his ability to not manage the heat," Aiello said. "Not knowing the case in particular, if he's had some nausea and vomiting beforehand, he may have already been somewhat dehydrated or malnourished. When you throw up, you lose electrolytes and fluids, and particularly if you have nausea and diarrhea, you may ave a lack of salt, which is important in managing your water balance."
Shogran had allergies to milk and soap, and two weeks before camp, he started drinking almond milk protein shakes. Several days before camp, in church, he lost all color in his face and was sweating excessively despite not doing any physical activity, according to the report.
He reported not feeling well leading up to camp, and on the day before leaving for camp, he threw up a clear liquid at home, according to the report.
Aiello said these are just more signs that point toward dehydration.
"If you're taking milk or carb substances that caused him to throw up, the key is, if he's been nauseated and vomiting, he may have already been dehydrated to start with and may needed to have more fluids before practice," Aiello said.
Aiello said any time someone begins to show signs of mental change during a physical activity, someone should call 911 and immediately start hydrating that person and cooling him or her off.
Shogran's mother began a petition online that calls for mandatory vital checks at youth football camps to help prevent deaths like her son's.