Crime & Safety
Southland Soccer Player Dies During Team Training
Palisades High's Shane Thomas, 17, died Saturday following practice. Temperatures reached a high of 111 at noon in Chino Hills Saturday.
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Shane Thomas, an All-City soccer player at Palisades Charter High School, died Saturday at a park in Chino Hills while at a training session with his team for the upcoming season, it was reported Tuesday. He was 17.
"We are truly saddened by his loss and our thoughts and prayers are with his family," Jimmy Nordberg, executive director of FC Golden State, told Patch via email. "He was found after practice away from the field and we are all devastated here at the club."
Thomas' sister, Cheyenne, said Thomas left the field at Ayala Park to take some balls to his coach's car. When he did not return, teammates started a search. She said he was found unresponsive. Paramedics were called and CPR was given but he could not be revived. His parents were at the park.
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Temperatures reached a high of 111 at noon in Chino Hills in San Bernardino County on Saturday.
Gabriel Morales, supervising investigator with San Bernardino County Sheriff Coroners office, said Thomas collapsed about 12:15 p.m. He was taken by ambulance to Chino Valley Medical Center, where he died at 1:13 p.m.
Find out what's happening in Pacific Palisadesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Morales said investigators believe his death was likely heat-related but a final determination won't be known until an autopsy is concluded.
Thomas had recently joined the elite club team. Patch reached out to the soccer club for more information about what happened.
"He was proud to be on that team," Cheyenne said.
Thomas scored 19 goals last season as a junior for the Dolphins and was set to be team captain this coming season.
Thomas is survived by his mother, father and sister.
An online fundraiser was created Monday to help the family raise money for the funeral costs.
"Shane was determined, hardworking, graceful, smart and all around a beautiful soul," a statement reads. He touched the lives of so many and it’s our turn to give back to his family in their time of need. We are raising money to cover the costs of the funeral and memorial services for Shane’s family as this passing was completely unexpected."
- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.
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