Fresno High School felt unusually quiet on Tuesday as students moved across campus between class periods, just one day after 14-year-old Daniel Padilla Jr. collapsed during P.E. and later died at a hospital.<\/p>\n
Authorities received a 911 call shortly after noon on Monday reporting an unconscious juvenile in the school’s south gym.<\/p>\n
“Can you put me on a medical call at Fresno High School? I need EMS code 3 for a juvenile that’s unconscious in the south gym. Scene secure, have them roll in,” a dispatcher said in a recorded call.<\/p>\n
Fresno Unified School District confirmed Padilla died the same day.<\/p>\n
His death has left classmates grieving, and some who have lived through similar tragedies say the emotional toll can be difficult for teens to navigate.<\/p>\n
“Teenagers, they don’t like to show emotions or really just like to talk to people. They shut themselves out, and I feel like that’s not the way to do it,” said Josiah Hernandez, who experienced the loss of a classmate in high school.<\/p>\n
Hernandez said he wishes more support had been available to him at the time.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Fresno Unified said, “We recognize that the loss of our student has impacted our Fresno High community. We have a team of mental health professionals at Fresno High School providing social-emotional support to students who may be affected or triggered by this tragedy.”<\/p>\n
“When I was in high school, we just had regular high school counselors. We didn’t have school psychologists or people that specialize in that, so I’m glad that they have the help here,” Hernandez said.<\/p>\n
The district said additional mental health resources are also available for staff. Nearby businesses have noticed the impact on educators who frequent the area.<\/p>\n
“It’s just clear that it’s impacting a lot of the faculty. I know that the people that we have come in here, they pour a lot into their jobs. I know that they care about these students a lot, and that’s a huge part of their life. I think that it’s just taking a toll on their mental health right now,” said Brooklynn Hamm, an employee at a coffee shop across the street from the school.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, officials have not released information on what may have caused the teen’s sudden death.<\/p>\n
If you would like to donate, the family has set up a GoFundMe<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kerry Mannix is a general assignment reporter for ABC30 Action News. For news updates, follow her on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n