Sickle Cell Blamed in Football Player’s Death

LONGVIEW — A condition said to be among the top non-traumatic killers of high school and college athletes is blamed in the death of a Pine Tree High School football player. According to KETK, a cause of death report obtained Wednesday stated that defensive back Joshua ‘Josh’ Warren, Longview, died of exertional sickling due to prolonged physical activity complicating sickle cell trait. The 16-year-old athlete died July 1 at Good Shepherd Medical Center, less than 24 hours after participating in a strength and conditioning workout at Pine Tree High School.

Sickle cell trait is a hereditary condition that causes some red blood cells, which normally are round or oval, to change into a crescent shape, or to “sickle,” according to information from the Korey Stringer Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of sudden death in sports.