North Carolina teenager, 15, dies after collapsing at football practice

A high school teenager has died after collapsing during team practice at Cummings High School on Monday.

Malik Mebane, 15, received CPR from the school's trainer after collapsing on the school field before an ambulance arrived at the scene. The teenager tragically died in hospital, and the team instantly canceled Tuesday's practice as a mark of respect.

It's not known what caused Mebane's collapse, but the Alamance-Burlington School System sent its condolences to his friends and family following the premature death. "Our District and the school community are heartbroken by this tragic loss," they wrote in a statement.

"Malik Mebane was a student, an athlete, and a part of our community. As a district, we are committed to supporting our students as they begin to process and cope with their grief.

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"We have a team of counselors and support staff at the school to help our students during this difficult time. "We'd like to thank the community for their outpouring of love and support for the school and our students as we continue to keep the family and friends of Malik in our thoughts."

It was first speculated that Mebane died on his way to practice, but his mother, Kalicia Mebane, rejected the notion in an emotional Facebook post. "Let me get this one thing straight for any and everyone who keeps running with these lies and spreading them," she wrote.

"MY SON PASSED AWAY DURING PRACTICE! DURING!!! My baby was out there running sprints GIVING HIS ALL to be a part of Cummings Football Team. That's the truth.

"So all this noise about him collapsing or fainting or whatever the hell people are saying 'while walking to practice' or 'before practice' is a lie and I don't appreciate whoever started this false narrative! My baby died GIVING HIS ALL AND YALL NOT GONE TAKE THAT FROM HIM!!'

Kalicia then made an appearance on WFMY2 to speak about her late son. "I feel like I haven't come to the full realization that this is my new reality... without my baby," she said in a gut-wrenching interview.

"He was excited, his bigger brother played football all the time. He wanted to be like his brother. I do not want my son's life to be misrepresentative about how his life ended.

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"He died giving his all during practice on the field. He was running, sprinting, and trying to do his best. I wanted to see my baby grow up and have a family. His siblings are taking it hard and they never expected growing up without him.

"As a parent, you want to go before your children, you don't want to bury your child."