Katy Teen's Death After Workout Stuns School - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

Oct. 7, 2006, 12:41PM
Katy teen's death after workout stuns school
By HELEN ERIKSEN
Chronicle Correspondent

Devastated friends and relatives of a 16-year-old Katy athlete who died after a Friday morning workout said he had no health problems and had followed his normal routine until the sudden collapse.

Jhonathan Bruda, a member of Taylor High School's cross-country track team, is the fourth Houston-area student to die during or after athletic practice within three weeks.

The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office completed an initial autopsy Friday, but further tests, including a toxicology screening for steroids and checking for cardiac problems, are scheduled, said Beverly Begay, an agency spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, school officials are trying to determine whether an area in the nearby fieldhouse where a portable defibrillator is kept was unlocked, as required, said Katy Independent School District spokesman Steve Stanford.

Bruda, a junior, collapsed after a light workout on the track at the school, 20700 Kingsland.

Friends said they are mystified because Bruda did not have health problems.

His sister, Yorneglia Bruda, 22, said the family is deeply saddened.

"Last night, he ate pancakes, did his homework, went to bed and woke up this morning to go to school," she said. "Then I heard from the school at about 6:30 a.m. what happened.

"He was a marvelous little boy — healthy and on the track team," she said.

Yorneglia Bruda said several of her brother's organs are being donated to comply with his wishes.

Stanford said Bruda had left the track and was on his way to the fieldhouse when he collapsed. A track coach, Amy Pitzel, immediately began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and called 911.

After Bruda collapsed, West Harris County Emergency Medical Services arrived within 3 to 4 minutes, Stanford said. The workers performed CPR on Bruda before taking him to Christus St. Catherine Hospital in Katy, where he was pronounced dead about 7:40 a.m.

Several Taylor students, including another member of the track team, said they are disturbed about the death.

"We were warming up like we do every day," said Josh Dowd, 16. "After running a mile on the track, we were getting ready to stretch, and that's when I heard a thump and turned around and saw him on the ground."

Dowd, a 10th-grader, said he took one look at Bruda and knew something was seriously wrong.

District officials said all Katy ISD campuses are equipped with at least two defibrillators, but neither was used on Bruda.

Stanford said the closest defibrillator was in the fieldhouse next to the track and another is in the nurse's office at the front of the school.

"In this case, it was not used because before someone could get it, the ambulance and EMS were already on the scene," Stanford said.

Dowd said Pitzel asked him to find campus security to unlock the area in the fieldhouse where the defibrillator is stored.

Stanford said he was unable to confirm Dowd's account. But he said the areas are supposed to be unlocked where the two defibrillators are kept.

Pitzel did not return calls.

Citing patient confidentiality, West Harris County EMS officials declined to say whether their agency used a defibrillator on Bruda.

"They use whatever equipment is necessary," department spokeswoman Kerry Sullivan said.

Before participating in sports, all district students must submit a 23-page athletic information packet, which includes a physical that must be signed by a licensed physician and a health-screening questionnaire, Stanford said.

Funeral arrangements were not complete at press time.

Stanford said grief counselors were available to students.

Type of publication: Newspaper When was the article reported?: 10/07/2006 Publication: Houston Chronicle Article Url: [Web Link] Is Registration Required?: no How widespread was the article reported?: regional News Category: Kids/Youth

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