Staten Island teen was forced to practice until he died, family claims

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 Liability Litigation

An ailing teenager trying to bow out of football practice early was ordered back to the gridiron — and his death, a lawyer claims. Nicholas Dellaventura, 15, eventually collapsed at the end of a preseason practice in Staten Island last year and died hours later of heat stroke, as his body temperature surged to 110 degrees, his family claims. A star freshman on St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School’s junior varsity team, Nicholas was aiming for a bigger role with the squad when he joined the July 23 drills at the school. But the 5-foot-8, 210-pound offensive lineman struggled in the mid-80s heat and high humidity, and at one point paused, his family claims. But instead of letting him take off a few plays or leave practice, coach Salvatore Ferraioli — who resigned a month later when he was arrested in the federal takedown of a Gambino gambling ring — shouted something that prompted the determined athlete to get back on the field, attorney Ralph DeSimone told The Post.


External References & Further Reading
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/staten_island/take_me_out_coach_7eswEjJi5CXPxtCIYh29bJ
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