Nikolas Visco, a junior on the Riverhead High School football team, is currently at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital after suffering from apparent heat stroke following the team’s first official practice Monday morning, according to school officials.
Visco is listed in critical condition, according to a Stony Brook Medicine spokeswoman.
“This is a truly tragic incident,” said Riverhead Superintendent Nancy Carney. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
Visco’s family issued a statement through the hospital Thursday, thanking friends and family for their support.
“He is being taken care of by a very experienced team of doctors and nurses,” the statement said. “We are very grateful and thankful for the care he is receiving.”
The Blue Waves wrapped up the first of two practices Monday at around 10 a.m. Section XI rules currently dictate that practices prior to the start of school season cannot take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to guard against players succumbing to heat.
As the players and coaches began to disperse at the end of practice, Visco collapsed onto the ground. A trainer immediately headed to Visco’s aid, according to a News-Review reporter at the field.
Coaches at first assumed it was asthma related. An ambulance was called shortly after to transport Visco to Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was later transferred to Stony Brook, Ms. Carney said.
Even though no heat alert had been issued Monday by Section XI, the team was practicing “as if it was a modified heat alert,” Ms. Carney said. The players were given water breaks and practicing in T-shirts and shorts, she said.
Riverhead coaches have been at the hospital with Visco “around the clock,” Ms. Carney said.
“Whenever a child gets hurt, it’s just tragic,” Ms. Carney said. “We put our thoughts and prayers together for a full recovery.”
An offensive lineman, Visco played on the junior varsity last year.
According to WebMD, “the medical definition of heatstroke is a core body temperature greater than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, with complications involving the central nervous system that occur after exposure to high temperatures.”
Ten months ago, Shoreham-Wading River football player Thomas Cutinella died following an injury suffered in a game against John Glenn High School.
WITH BOB LIEPA
(Photo Caption: Nikolas Visco pictured in his Riverhead uniform. (Credit: courtesy photo)