An investigation is underway into complaints that a workout ordered by a Texas high school football coach led to multiple athletes being hospitalized.
The incident involves Rockwall-Heath High School. Two parents who were not named by the Dallas Morning News said that based on their conversations with other parents, at least eight students went to a hospital.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said it is now part of an investigation, according to KDFW-TV, which said Child Protective Services is also looking at the incident.
Parent Osehotue Okojie said her son showed symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, sometimes called “rhabdo.”
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The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website that rhabdomyolysis “is a serious medical condition that can be fatal or result in permanent disability.”
The condition strikes “when damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood. These substances can damage the heart and kidneys and cause permanent disability or even death,” the CDC said.
Okojie told KDFW her son “couldn’t lift his arms, brush his teeth. He could not lift his hands to wash his face. He had swelling in his muscles.”
She said that on Friday, Jan. 6, football team members had to do 400 pushups, starting over if anyone stopped, adding that from what she was told, “it was a form of punishment.” WFAA-TV quoted a source as saying athletes had to do more than 300 pushups in 60 minutes.
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“I’ve spoken to military folks, and they haven’t done that level of workout and these are children,” Okojie said
Maria Avila, who spoke to KDFW through a translator, said when her son came home that Friday, “His arms were swollen. He couldn’t brush his teeth. I didn’t know what the consequences of these pushups.”
Okojie said she spoke up because students complaining about the impact of the workout were being criticized.
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