Los Gatos Teen Collapses, Dies Mysteriously
Family hopes autopsy sheds light on cause
Updated 6:02 PM PST, Wed, Dec 3, 2008
A Los Gatos family is hoping autopsy results out Wednesday will explain why their son suddenly collapsed and died at school.
Michael Halpin collapsed Tuesday afternoon outside Los Gatos High School.
He was a senior and a member of the varsity football team. The team had just finished a lunch meeting to go over game film.
Despite immediate efforts by teachers and then paramedics, Halpin later died.
The team was preparing for the regional championship game this weekend in Palo Alto. The game will be dedicated to his memory and his family said they will attend.
Halpin's family said he lived for football and did everything he could in his sophomore year to make the team.
"He spent two years getting in shape. Going to the gym. Working out eating healthy and he made it that was his dream," Halpin's sister, Rose Tellis said.
He had just taken his senior and football pictures.
"He loved everybody he liked to go out and help people," Tim Halpin, the boy's father said. "He's always liked to make jokes he was just coming into his own."
His friends were shocked by the news of his death. On Wednesday, students met with grief counselors to deal with Halpin's death.
"I can't believe it," Leslie Zankich, one of Halpin's friends, said. "He was the person I could tell anything to and the person I would turn to on a bad day."
He was also the guy who would make people laugh, his friends said.
"He was one of the people who put a smile on your face," his friend Chelsea Bearden said.
Tim Halpin said, "He loved everybody. He liked to go out and help people. He always liked to make jokes. He was just coming into his own."
His family said they said their final good-byes Tuesday at the hospital. Halpin was the baby of the family.
Halpin's organs were donated. His dad said it took a tragedy and tried to make a positive out of it in helping others.
A memorial fund is being set up to help the family with funeral services.
Sign condolence book here.
First Published: Dec 3, 2008 6:41 AM PST
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