SPOKANE, Mo. -- A high school basketball player collapsed in the school gymnasium about 7 a.m. Wednesday, after a team practice and died later at a hospital in Springfield. Forrest Varney was 17 years old.
The school says CPR was administered immediately and an ambulance took him to a hospital, but doctors were not able to save him. A medical examiner will conduct an autopsy.
District officials are providing counseling to students and faculty who need it. Additional counselors went to the school.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of one of our students and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends," a district news release says.
“He was a great student and great kid, who always had a smile on his face. Forrest never met someone he didn’t want to befriend,” said Jim Millsap, Spokane High School principal.
“Forrest was such a sincere person. He was always there for teachers and students alike. He would do anything anyone asked of him. He was friends with the whole school,” said Daryl Bernskoetter, Spokane School District Superintendent.
Additional information along with service information will be available on Thursday.
