Teen Girl Dies While Playing Tug-of-War at School Event

Maddison Wentworth reportedly complained of a headache and dizziness before collapsing
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted May 21, 2016 12:29 PM CDT
Teen Girl Dies While Playing Tug-of-War at School Event
Maddison Wentworth died Thursday after collapsing during a tug-of-war game at her school's field day.   (GoFundMe)

An Alabama family is reeling after their 13-year-old daughter collapsed and died during a game of tug-of-war during her school's field day last week, WVTM reports. Leslie Wentworth says her daughter Maddison had been excited for the annual event. "She was a beautiful kid," Wentworth says. "She was a bright star. She was going to go places." When Maddison collapsed while playing tug-of-war at Williams Intermedia School in Pell City, a school nurse and coaches immediately started performing CPR, reports WIAT. But the teen was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. Wentworth tells Fox News Maddison didn't have any health problems that she knew of, and a cause of death has yet to be determined.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, students, faculty, and staff,” a police spokesperson tells WIAT. One parent is blaming the school for not providing adequate water for the students during the hot day. “[My daughter] told me that they were only allowed to get water if they went to go to the restroom, otherwise they had to buy the water," Amanda Garrett says. "She said it was like a dollar or a $1.50 a bottle." She says her daughter, who was playing tug-of-war with Maddison, said Maddison complained about being dizzy and having a headache before collapsing. The school district's superintendent tells WVTM teachers made sure water was available for students. (More Alabama stories.)

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