Notre Dame Mourns Freshman Basketball Player Who Collapsed While Watching Practice
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A freshman basketball player at a San Fernando Valley Catholic high school has died, school officials announced Monday.
Nikki Valdez was "observing basketball practice" at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks when she "suddenly collapsed," according to a statement from Notre Dame principal Brett Lowart.
Paramedics called to the scene immediately treated Valdez and transferred her to Sherman Oaks Hospital, where efforts to revive her were unsuccessful, Lowart said.
The school held a prayer service for Valdez and her family before school Tuesday. Grief counselors were also available on campus for students.
"The Notre Dame community will assuredly come together in faith, as it always does, to comfort and support the Valdez family and one another," Lowart said.
Friends and fellow students took to Twitter to express their condolences.
Life is so precious. RIP Nikki, the Notre Dame family will miss you. Sending prayers to the Valdez family❤️
— Jillian Garner (@jilllgarnerr) November 17, 2015
Always tragic to lose a member of the Notre Dame family. RIP Nikki Valdez. Prayers to the ND community and the Valdez family. ????
— Daniel Incerpi (@Daniel_Incerpi) November 17, 2015
A cause of death was not immediately released.