Authorities ID 11-year-old student who collapsed

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office released a preliminary cause-of-death finding Wednesday for an 11-year-old Vernon Middle School student who died unexpectedly Tuesday.

The boy is 11-year-old James Leverette, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

“The medical examiner’s preliminary findings support a cause of death from a heart condition knows as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,” according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. The release noted the final finding would not be released until the medical examiner’s office received toxicology results.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is a disease of the heart in which a portion becomes hypertrophied, or thickened, without any obvious cause.

“This is a tragic situation and our heart goes out to the family and friends affected by this child’s death,” stated Sheriff Haddock in the news release. “While we mourn as a community, we ask you to remember to keep this family in your prayers.”

Witnesses said James was with some other students at the nearby high school’s bus lane when it appeared “he got his feet tangled and fell down,” said Capt. James Strickland. Witnesses also said James made no effort to break his fall, according to Strickland.

Strickland said School Resource Officer Tina Sims was notified at 1:23 p.m. that help was needed. Sims was there soon after and called for assistance.

Leverette was taken to Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley by Washington County EMS and died there later Tuesday afternoon.