A California high school football player who collapsed during a game earlier this week died on Saturday, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported.
Dodi Soza was a 16-year-old running back for Downey High School, about 15 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. He collapsed while playing at nearby Lynwood High School on Thursday. When firefighters arrived, he was not breathing.
Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and took Soza to a hospital. He was transferred to another hospital on Friday. There, he was listed in critical condition Friday.
“Our community mourns the passing of one of our own today, DHS football player Dodi Soza,” Downey Mayor Mario Guerra tweeted Saturday. “Our broken hearts are with his family. God bless him.”
A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night at the high school football field, with many members of the community turning up to show support:
White candles and balloons at vigil outside Downey High for Dodi Soza pic.twitter.com/C61CbDk6Xc
— Jeff Nguyen (@jeffnguyen) October 13, 2013
Several friends and well-wishers took to Twitter to honor him:
Rip dodi soza 10:48am was confirmed he fought all he could , hes in a better place now you will forever be missed pic.twitter.com/c85Xu2x6qy
— El Distribuidor (@MartinPoncexD) October 12, 2013
#PrayforDodi Update: DHS football team signs game ball for Dodi Soza; player collapsed at game. [Photo@diamonddylann] pic.twitter.com/fa2eSAeChN
— Mekahlo Medina (@MekahloNBCLA) October 11, 2013
The cause of the collapse is still not known, the report said.
