Texas High School Runner Dies After ‘Medical Emergency’ at Cross-Country Practice

A high school cross-country runner collapsed and died amid extreme weather last month in East Texas, authorities said.

Estefani Cabrera, 15, died at a hospital in Shreveport, La. on Tuesday, Aug. 19 after suffering a “medical emergency” the day before at her school in Marshall, Texas, according to CBS affiliate KYTX-TV and Marshall ISD.

Cabrera had just completed a two-mile run at practice when she collapsed. A 911 call log obtained by ABC affiliate KTBS-TV showed that first responders were dispatched to the high school campus at 4:05 p.m., and that Cabrera was unconscious and may have suffered a seizure upon completing the run.

After she was taken to a local hospital, Cabrera was transported to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport where she later died.

An autopsy was performed and the cause of Cabrera’s death is expected to be known within eight weeks, KTBS reported.

A heat advisory had been issued for that day and the high temperature was 97 degrees, according to AccuWeather data. With humidity factored in, the heat index was between 105-110 degrees.

Now, the UIL is investigating the circumstances of Cabrera’s death while her family members look for answers.

Her mother, Erika Vargas talked about her loss with ABC affiliate KLTV in Tyler. 

“Estefani was a happy child … she loved to dance, play around, baking cakes,” Vargas said.

The mother added, “She was excited to start cross country. She showed me her shirt, she goes, ‘Look, I’m No. 20. I’m going to work my way to No. 1,′ she said. I told her she was going to be my track star.”