The family of a 12-year-old California middle schooler claims that he was forced to run in extreme heat as he begged for water during a PE class before he collapsed dead.
Lake Middle School student Yahshua Robinson was reportedly not wearing appropriate clothes for the gym class and complaining of feeling unwell before the fatal collapse on Tuesday.
“He was reaching out to the teacher, saying he needed some water,” the boy’s aunt said according to accounts from students who witnessed the ordeal.
The student ran under the scorching sun as the temperature in his Lake Elsinore town reached 97 degrees. He reportedly told the teacher he “couldn’t breathe” before falling unresponsive.
Robinson was rushed to Loma Linda University Medical Center where he was declared dead at 12:55 p.m.
“Why would you have a child in his clothes – he didn’t dress out – running a field?” the aunt asked.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the student’s death announcing that an investigation is underway.
“In this difficult moment, we are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of our students due to a medical emergency on one of our LEUSD campuses,” the Lake Elsinore Unified School District said in a statement.
“Our hearts are with the family, friends, and our school community.”
