MEBANE, N.C.—
The family of an eighth-grader who collapsed in gym class and later died credits the outpouring of support from their son's classmates and their tight-knit community for helping them cope.Dexter Ray, a 14-year-old student at Woodlawn Middle School, collapsed in gym class and was rushed to the hospital where he later died Monday, according to a school spokeswoman.
The oldest of five boys, Dexter had been diagnosed with an irregular heart beat last year, forcing him to quit his school's football team, his father told FOX8 News on Wednesday.
"He was a fun-loving teenager who loved sports, loved family and friends, loved being active, loved life," said Dexter's father, also named Dexter Ray. "It's really rough being this time of year. It's really rough for our four other sons in the house, and they are trying to understand and cope with their brother not being here."
Since Dexter's sudden death, his classmates have reached out to the Ray family, sending dozens of cards and letters containing favorite memories of Dexter and other encouragements.
When the women at a local hair salon heard of the death, they began collecting money for the family.
"Just to think, sending your child off to school and saying goodbye and thinking you are going to see your child come home and to find out that you child has died is devastating," said Mary Strayhorn, one of the hairdressers.
Woodlawn Middle has had grief counselors on hand for students in the days following Dexter's death.
The family is waiting on an autopsy to determine exactly what caused Dexter to collapse.
An Alamance County middle school student who required medical attention after gym class later died, according to a spokeswoman for Alamance County Schools.
Jenny Faulkener said the student at Woodlawn Middle was treated by emergency medical personnel after participating in gym class Monday. Faulkener said she the school was later informed the student had died.
Faulkener would not comment on the student's health and said she did now know what type of activity he or she was involved in during gym class.
