Preston Malone, a 15-year-old high school football player at Lancaster Early College High School in Texas, is dead after experiencing a medical emergency during practice. On August 18, 2025, Malone, a sophomore on the junior varsity football team, was running sprints at practice with his teammates when he told his coach he wasn’t feeling well.
“The coach immediately noticed that Malone was not sweating,” Kimberly Simpson, a school district spokesperson, said during an August 20 news conference, per CBS Texas. “He was not perspiring.”
An athletic trainer called 911 as Malone was placed into a cold tub to cool him down; his temperature was reportedly 104 degrees. Soon, paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital. Tragically, Malone died on August 20.
“We were hopeful for his recovery, but his condition changed overnight, and he sadly passed away,” the school district shared in a news release, per People.
“His last words were, ‘Hey, I’m sorry I was unable to finish the workout,’” Simpson shared during the news conference, “which speaks to the type of kid Preston was.”
Football practice had been moved indoors that day because of the high temperatures outside, Simpson said during the news conference, per WFAA. Although the indoor practice area does not have air conditioning, Simpson explained, “There are four large garage door areas, and those are always lifted up, and we have fans that circulate air inside.”
“Our Lancaster ISD athletic training staff carefully followed all UIL and district heat safety protocols and procedures, which included adjusting practice times, utilizing indoor facilities, maintaining hydration stations, monitoring real-time heat conditions, and ensuring certified athletic trainers were on site,” the school district’s news release reads.
The district added, “When the medical emergency occurred, our staff responded immediately and with great care for our student.”
Simpson described Malone as “an exceptional student and did things the Tiger way,” WFAA reported. “He excelled in everything that he did, and he will be remembered for that.”
“Our hearts are broken, and we extend our deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, classmates, teammates, and teachers during this unimaginable time of loss,” School Superintendent A.K. Perera shared in the school district’s news release. “We ask our community to join us in keeping the family in their thoughts and prayers.”
