A 14-year-old student at Western High School in Davie, Florida, died after collapsing from cardiac arrest during a five-kilometer race. 

The incident occurred at Everglades High School in Miramar, Florida, on Saturday, November 4, 2023.

Knox MacEwen was participating in the event as a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) member when the cardiac episode unfolded. 

Emergency services responded to the call around 9 a.m. and despite resuscitation efforts could not save him.  MacEwen was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The principal of Western High School informed the staff and student body of MacEwen’s death, noting that counselors would be made available to help students cope with the loss of their schoolmate. 

He was described as an active and respected school and local church community member. Adding to the  MacEwen family’s hardship is the fact that his mother, Julie, is recovering from cancer. 

The precise cause of the episode has not been disclosed. Cardiac arrest amongst the young is a rare but recognized phenomenon that can strike without warning. Sudden cardiac death among children is uncommon, with estimates of around 200 cases per year.

To assist the family with funeral costs and related expenses, a GoFundMe campaign was established. By Tuesday, November 7, it had surpassed $68,000. The campaign’s description pays tribute to Knox, characterizing him as a caring and humorous teenager who left a lasting impact on those who knew him.