A 10-year-old boy who collapsed and died at a basketball camp in the gym at Southeastern Oklahoma State University suffered from a heart abnormality, the state medical examiner's office said Thursday.
Colton Sherrill of Durant died Wednesday afternoon while participating in the third day of the camp for elementary boys and girls in grades 2-6, the university said.
The cause of death was congenital heart disease, said Kevin Rowland, chief investigator for the medical examiner's office.
"He had a known heart problem, but he had some issues that were worse than what they thought," Rowland said.
University athletic training staff quickly administered CPR before he was taken to the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma, where he died.
Colton was the son of Bryan County Special Associate District Judge Trace Sherrill and his wife, Dena.
"It's unbearable," Bryan County District Judge Mark Campbell said. "Everybody is kind of in shock right now. We are profoundly saddened.
"We loved him dearly."
The weeklong camp teaches basketball fundamentals for children. The elementary school camp began Monday.
The camp is taught by Southeastern assistant coaches, area junior and high school coaches, as well as local high school and Southeastern players.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragic news," Southeastern President Michael D. Turner said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with this young man's family during this difficult time, as well as our athletic staff."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
