Nebraska high school football player, 16, COLLAPSES at practice and DIES after heat-related medical emergency

A 16-year-old boy from Omaha, Nebraska, died of a heat-related medical condition after he fainted during football practice a day after schools in the state reopened, officials said.  

Drake Geiger, who was 6-foot-3 and weighed 389 pounds, collapsed Tuesday on the practice field at South High School around 4.30pm, according to the Omaha Fire Department.

The temperature on the steamy Midwestern afternoon had reached 91 degrees with a heat index of 105 when Geiger passed out.

The boy still had a pulse when the ambulance arrived and was rushed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, officials said. He was treated for heat-exposure, but died later.   

Tuesday was Geiger's first football practice after schools reopened the previous day. He was forced to skip Monday's training because his physician had forgotten to sign a form, said his father, Scott Hoffman.

Paramedics were called at South High School in Omaha after a student collapsed during a football practice 

Drake Geiger, 16, was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he was treated for heat-exposure and later died 

It was Geiger's first football practice of the season, as he had missed Monday's because his doctor had forgotten to sign a form 

Hoffman told NBC his son had no known medical conditions.

'He was a big kid but he was a healthy big kid,' the heartbroken dad said.

This summer has brought an excessive heatwave to Nebraska, now under a heat advisory through Thursday, the Weather Service said.

The district is conducting an investigation on the circumstances of his death. 

Geiger is the fourth high school football player to collapse during practice and die in the past month. 

In Detroit, Stephen Sylvester, 15, died on Saturday, five days after collapsing during a conditioning session in 83-degree weather. The teen was also a member of the track team. 

In Georgia on July 26, Joshua Ivory, 15, passed out during practice at Southwest High School in Macon and later died after temperatures neared 100 degrees. It was also Ivory's first day of practice. 

In Philadelphia on July 13, Ivan Hicks, 16, died after the 6-foot-4, 300-pound teen collapsed during a scrimmage game. He had stopped to drink water when he feinted on the 83-degree day.   

Geiger's father said his son had no known medical conditions 

His father said: 'He was a big kid but he was a healthy big kid.' Geiger was 6ft3in and 389 pounds.

Symptoms of a heatstroke include a throbbing headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea and a strong pulse, according to the CDC. The agency advises to call 911 immediately if someone seems to be having a heatstroke.  

Some states have taken steps towards enhancing a fast response to students collapsing because of heat-exposure.  

In June 2020, Gov DeSantis signed a bill that required Florida schools to take measures to protect student athletes against heatstroke. Florida is the state with most reported student deaths during practice because of heat-exposure. 

The bill was named after Zachary Martin-Polsenberg, a 16-year-old who died as a result of exertional heat illness after collapsing on the football field in 2017. 

Cold tubs, where overheated athletes are submerged in case of a heatstroke, are required in schools in Idaho, Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Jersey and Tennessee. 

Heat stress monitors are mandatory during school practices in Minnesota, Illinois and South Carolina.

North Carolina, Georgia and Vermont require both cold tubs and heat monitors, according to the Korey Stringer Institute.