Tribute held at Fresno High for 14-year-old student who died after collapse

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The household of Daniel Padilla Jr. gathered successful grief extracurricular Fresno High School connected Thursday day to grant the 14-year-old freshman, sharing tears, prayers and memories much than 2 weeks aft his death.

Under sunny skies, relatives stood connected the beforehand steps of the field wherever Padilla collapsed during a carnal acquisition people connected March 9. He was rushed to a adjacent hospital, wherever helium died.

"I ne'er imagined being without my small brother," said his older sister, Hailey Valdovinos.

RELATED: 14-year-old Fresno High School pupil who died aft passing retired during people identified

A household member, Jose Mariscal, remembered Padilla arsenic a young teen conscionable opening his life.

"He was conscionable a kid starting precocious school, opening his beingness to becoming an adult," Mariscal said.

A recorded 911 telephone captured the urgency of the effect that day.

"Can you enactment maine connected a aesculapian telephone astatine Fresno High School? I request EMS codification 3 for a juvenile that's unconscious successful the southbound gym. Scene secure, person them rotation in," a dispatcher said successful a recorded call.

First responders transported Padilla to a hospital, but contempt life-saving efforts, helium died. Mariscal said the quality was hard to accept.

"I didn't privation to judge it. I conscionable thought it was a dream. I wanted it to beryllium a dream, but past it wasn't," helium said.

Padilla's mother, Kenia Ruiz, said the household is inactive searching for clarity astir what happened.

"We inactive don't cognize precisely what happened. We're searching for answers, but we don't cognize yet," Ruiz said.

She said their last speech took spot during the thrust to schoolhouse earlier that day.

"We were talking astir his cousin's quinceañera successful May. He was truthful excited," Ruiz said.

Standing earlier the school, Ruiz shared a connection for different parents.

"Hug your kids; emotion them and fto them cognize that they are cared for," she said.

The household sharing a infinitesimal of prayer, thanking God for the years they had with the son, brother, and person they called Danny.

"...For the moments that we had with him, for the memories that volition ne'er spell away," a household subordinate said during the prayer.

Another comparative added, "He's successful Heaven with God."

As they mourn, the household is making arrangements for Padilla's burial and memorial services. If you;d similar to donate to assistance with those expenses, click here.

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