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Connecticut high school student dies after losing consciousness at football practice

A Connecticut high school student died after losing consciousness at football practice, school officials said.

Windsor High School student Elijah-Jay Mariano Rivera lost consciousness during practice Tuesday and was given CPR by police and emergency medical technicians, district superintendent Terrence Hill said in a letter to families.

Hill said the teen was not engaged in any football drills or tackling at the time.

The student was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Hill said. “Sadly, the medical professionals were unable to revive him,” he said.

Hill said crisis counselors would be available for students and staff on Wednesday. “As a community we want to keep his family in our thoughts and prayers and support them moving forward however we can," he said.

No other information on the student's death was provided. District officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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