Chino High School Athlete Dies After Near Drowning – NBC Los Angeles

A Chino High School freshman football player died just days after suffering a medical emergency in the school pool, the Chino Valley School District said Monday.

Another player's parent said the boy was expected to be a star athlete on the team, adding that he was also a strong swimmer.

While the school district couldn't share many details pending an investigation, it confirmed the boy was at the pool for a football team activity Friday when he nearly drowned.

According to the Chino Valley Fire Department, EMS crews responded to the school for a possible drowning. They arrived within five minutes and the boy had already been pulled from the water.

They took him to hospital, where he remained on life support until Sunday.

The district said it was awaiting the investigation to determine the cause of the medical emergency.

““We want to reassure our community that appropriate personnel are reviewing all details surrounding the situation,” said Andy Johnston, spokesman for the Chino Valley Unified School District.

Johnston also confirmed that the boy previously attended a middle school in the district.

Chino High students swimming at a neighborhood pool Monday said they heard what happened and were thinking of the boys' families.

“He just passed away like that, like it came out of nowhere,” sophomore Jose Juarez said. “He was in the pool and he was having fun. But things happened, so I feel bad for his parents and his family.”

The district said counselors are available to all high school students and staff.