On Tuesday, county medical examiner officials confirmed the identity of an Oceanside teen who collapsed at the school on Monday and later died.
Brandon Zapata, 15, collapsed while running during his physical education class at Oceanside's El Camino High School. A district spokesman said Brandon was in good health and had a medical check-up last month.
Counselors and psychologists were at the school Tuesday, helping students, teachers and staff cope with this sudden loss.
"I think a state of shock generally describes all of them," said Stephanie Locascio, Brandon's teacher. "Some ... I have one girl, she wrote him a beautiful poem, and you know, it's hard when he's here one day and gone the next."
Brandon was a sophomore special-ed student at El Camino. One of his teachers described him as sweet, quiet and hard-working.
Officers said a school coach gave the teenager CPR until paramedics arrived.
Brandon was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, according to police.
Staff also had used a portable defibrillator on the teenager, Oceanside fire Battalion Chief Pete Lawrence told our media partners the North County Times.
