SC middle school student dies of heart attack

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — A 13-year-old Sumter middle school student has died after suffering a heart attack following basketball tryouts.

Sumter School District spokeswoman Shelly Galloway told The Item of Sumter (http://bit.ly/sKQUR9 ) a staff member was with eighth-grader Tiffany Amber Cleckley on Tuesday when she collapsed in the office at Mayewood Middle School. Galloway says an off-duty medical professional administered CPR and used an automated defibrillator until paramedics arrived.

Coroner Harvin Bullock said Cleckley was taken to a hospital, where she died. Bullock said an autopsy found a heart attack caused the death.

Principal John Koumas says Cleckley will be greatly missed.

Galloway said students are required to submit a physical before participating in tryouts. Counselors were at the school to help students and faculty cope with the loss.

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Information from: The Item, http://www.theitem.com