Teen track athlete collapses outside of high school and dies, Minnesota officials say
Questions remain after the death of a Minnesota track and field athlete who collapsed outside his high school.
Espoir Missite, 16, whose first name means “hope” in French, was on a trail behind Maple Grove Senior High School just before 5 p.m. Feb. 25 when he collapsed, according to a report from The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Alain Hambike, organizer of a GoFundMe page for Missite’s family, said he suffered cardiac arrest.
“His lively spirit and passion for science, sport and life impacted everyone he encountered, and his absence is profoundly felt by all,” Hambike said.
Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Berger said the fire department responded to an emergency call and found Missite collapsed, according to Bring Me The News.
Bystanders had jumped in to perform life-saving measures until emergency responders arrived and performed CPR on the teenager, according to KSTP.
They took him to a nearby hospital where he died, according to the news outlet. A cause of death has not yet been announced by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Maple Grove Principal Bart Becker said Missite was a junior at the school, and he did not collapse during a school practice, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Maple Grove is about a 15-mile drive northwest from Minneapolis.
This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 10:52 AM with the headline "Teen track athlete collapses outside of high school and dies, Minnesota officials say."
