Texas High School Football Player Dead After Suffering ‘Serious Medical Emergency’ at Practice

Odin Hensley, a senior football player at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, has died after suffering a serious medical emergency at practice. He was 17. 

Hensley went into “cardiac arrest” on Monday, August 10, according to a GoFundMe arranged in his honor, and was transported by emergency helicopter to nearby Dell Children’s Medical Center. 

His death was announced by Lake Travis superintendent Curtis Null in a letter to the school’s families on Thursday, August 13. 

“It is with profound sadness that we share that Lake Travis High School senior Odin Hensley has passed away as a result of complications from a medical emergency he experienced during football practice earlier this week,” the message read. “Odin had been part of the Lake Travis ISD family for many years, beginning at Lake Pointe Elementary School. At Lake Travis High School, he was a dedicated two-sport athlete who excelled in wrestling and football.”

The note added, “His teachers and coaches remember Odin as a kind, determined young man who was a valued teammate, classmate, and friend. His presence touched many lives, and he will be deeply missed.”

Greg Gold, a Lake Travis parent, gave his eyewitness account of the tragedy on social media. 

“I was there. I witnessed it firsthand,” Gold wrote via Facebook on Monday. 

He continued, “I also cannot say enough about the way the Lake Travis coaching staff, athletic training/medical staff, and EMS professionals responded today. It was incredibly clear that the people responsible for the safety and care of our kids were highly trained, prepared, and remarkably composed in an extremely difficult situation.”

Gold said the football team’s coaches were able to get “the other players off the field without creating additional panic.”

“At the same time, the young man in need was immediately surrounded by [Lake Travis] staff and EMS professionals, with all hands on deck doing everything possible to protect him, care for him, and give him the attention he needed,” he explained. “As someone who was THERE and witnessed this firsthand, not someone speaking from hearsay, I have the utmost respect and appreciation for every individual who stepped up during today’s emergency.”

Gold added, “We trust these coaches and trainers with our children every day. Today was a powerful reminder that their responsibility goes far beyond football. In a moment when one of our boys needed them most, they responded with urgency, professionalism, compassion, and incredible composure.”

The GoFundMe set up to support the Hensley family has raised more than $155,000 at the time of publication.