13-year-old faints during football practice and dies at hospital, Texas officials say

A 13-year-old boy died after suffering a “medical emergency” during a middle school football practice, Texas reports say.

Julio Oliveira, a student at Carroll Middle School, died Friday, Aug. 25, a day after fainting during the morning practice, according to a GoFundMe campaign and an email sent to parents from the school principal.

Doctors determined Julio had a brain aneurysm, said Sreedhar Ellisetty, the manager of a club soccer team Julio played for. There were no prior warnings or signs, Ellisetty said in the GoFundMe.

“Losing a student is a devastating and painful experience, and it reminds us all of the fragility of life,” Carroll Middle School Principal Shatina Lewis said in an email to parents obtained by The Dallas Morning News. “In times like these, it’s essential that we come together as a supportive and compassionate school family to help one another through this difficult period.”

A memorial service was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 29, at White’s Chapel Church in Southlake, according to Southlake Style.

A woman who taught Julio’s younger sister said Julio and his family moved to Southlake from Brazil in 2019. The teacher called Julio “a sweet big brother.”

“Julio was a fantastic & caring person and a great soccer player,” Ellisetty said in the GoFundMe. “He had a warm smile and (was a) kind-hearted person.”

Declan O’Shea, the coach of Julio’s club team, called him “compassionate, intelligent (and) ultra competitive,” WFAA reported. Julio played on the same club for four years, and O’Shea said the team is “shocked” by the death.

“They’re sad. They’re heartbroken for the family,” O’Shea told WFAA. “It was like a family. That team alone was a huge family.”

Southlake is about 25 miles northeast of Fort Worth.

This story was originally published August 29, 2023 at 7:49 AM.