Teen dies after collapsing at football practice at Bronx school

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - A teenager who collapsed at football practice at a private school in the Bronx Tuesday morning later died, according to authorities.

Dominick Bess, 14, collapsed on the field at Mount Saint Michael Academy at 4300 Murdock Avenue at around 9:30 a.m., the NYPD said. Officers responded to a 911 call and found him "unconscious and unresponsive," police said.

EMS responded to the school because of someone in "cardiac arrest," the FDNY said. Medics rushed Bess to Montefiore Medical Center's North Division where he died. The cause of death is not yet known.

The all-boys Catholic school, which has grades 6 through 12, said in a statement that the freshman player was participating in a "non-contact football team practice."

"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, as well as coaches, the team and our student-athletes," the school said in a statement. "Grief counselors will be at the school to help students cope with the tragedy."

Bertram Meade, Dominick's great uncle, said the teenager had no previous health problems. He said the family believes the extreme heat likely played a role.

The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory for New York City on Tuesday, but it didn't go into effect until noon.

The school said Dominick passed a mandatory physical exam before beginning practice.

Dominick lived with his mother and older brother in the Baychester section of the Bronx. Friends and family stopped by Tuesday night to try to offer comfort to the grieving family.

The campus has a natural-grass football field with stands that can seat 3,000 spectators, according to the academy's website.