Yipes! XC Coaches worst nightmare.

Flailing Homosapiens

Further tests are planned to explain runner's death

BELFAST, Maine — An autopsy on a 14-year-old boy who collapsed and died during a cross country meet was inconclusive Monday. Further tests are planned to determine why Joseph Diprete-DiGioia died, according to the state medical examiner's office in Augusta. Despite the autopsy results, officials said there was nothing suspicious about the boy's death.

A search was organized after Diprete-DiGioia never made it across the finish line Saturday afternoon in the Maine XC Festival of Champions. His body was found near the running path behind Troy Howard Middle School.

Police Chief Allen Weaver said the last sighting of the runner was when he passed the first checkpoint.

Belfast Area High School Principal Butch Arthers described Diprete-DiGioia as a bright student who was well-liked by his peers.

Grief counselors were made available Sunday at the high school. Support staff also will be available for Belfast Area High School and Troy Howard Middle School students during the week, said Bob Young, School Administrative District 34 superintendent.

"We will have the staff in place to try and keep things as normal as possible, which is difficult in a case like this. Anything like this has a sobering and moving effect on a school because it happens unpredictably. We are working with our crisis team and it was a very somber group that met here this morning."

Diprete-DiGioia was competing in the second race of the day when he collapsed. There were about 160 runners in his group.

Altogether, more than 550 runners from across the state took part in the all-day event, Weaver said.

Frightened Inmate #2

That's too bad. Something to think about when I sign the next race waiver though. Shocked

Flailing Homosapiens

Member

Sometimes there are abnomalities in us that do not manifest themselves until too late. Two years ago, a bit past the halfway mard of a 25K race we came across the paramedics performing CPR on a fellow runner. He had no history of any problems, was 38 and in great shape.

But his autopsy showed he died almost instantly of a massive stroke. He had a blood vessel in his brain that was weak. It just finally let go. It could have let go at anytime. I have known people who died of heart failure due to a defect in their valve that never gave them a moment's problem until it failed.

So send not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.

Member

Newbie

Maddies Wench Purple Haze et al, your concern is good. In this case, the runner had no detected problem (and no heart problem was found at autopsy). The MDs said he died because hypothermia was a trigger for arrythmia. When JOE was known missing, the officials put off looking for him, since it was a big meet with 4 races. After all the races finished they began to look for him, and found him in 10 minutes (right next to the trail where runners are told to move to when they cannot finish a run). He was alive for 2 hours waiting, but died about 10 min. before they searched.
Please make sure all your school officials have a team-based set of emergency response plans that will account for all athletes first, and that an event will proceed only when all athletes are attended to. This boy had many opportunities for being treated and kept healthy. Keep all athletes as afe as possible. Don't put the event before the athlete.
We will help provide ERPs and an AED to any school who would like one.
Love to all student athletes.

Member

It can happen to anyone, but it is scary. Poor kid and family both. I am sure that he is missed.

Yipes! XC Coaches worst nightmare.

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