Young Athlete Collapses On Wellington Field & Dies The Next Day

A vigil was held in honor of a Wellington High School graduate who was well known as a local student athlete.

Delani Smith played football during his four years at the school before heading off to college. He was practicing on the school's football field on Monday when he collapsed and passed away a the hospital the next day. That was one day before what would've been Delani's 21st birthday.

On that Wellington field Thursday night, family, friends, former teammates and coaches gathered with law enforcement to remember the man who was described as a leader who loved playing sports. Folks shared stories about Smith, including his positive attitude and genuine care for others.

Delani had earned a college scholarship to play football at Graceland University in Iowa, where he was studying psychology with dreams of becoming an educator and motivational speaker.

His death sheds light on this alarming statistic: sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death among young athletes in the U.S. And according to the National Institutes of Health, black athletes appear to be at higher risk.

Delani’s body has been taken to the medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of death and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family lay him to rest.