NAMS student's death due to heart defect

The 14-year-old North Augusta student who died Monday after collapsing in gym class likely suffered from a congenital heart defect that officials said can develop gradually and without any symptoms.

James "Cody" Fox, of North Augusta, died from an irregular heartbeat due to left ventricular hypertrophy, or what Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said is an enlargement of the muscular tissue of the left ventricle.

Despite working for nearly an hour to save the life of Fox, the teenager was pronounced dead at the Medical College of Georgia's Children's hospital around 10:56 a.m., Carlton said.

The eighth-grader had completed a 200-yard "slow run" with classmates during a routine physical education jogging exercise on the outdoor track when he collapsed near his physical education teacher, officials said.

The teacher, Richard Bush, and the school nurse immediately began CPR on the teenager until EMS took over chest compressions. Emergency medical crews took Fox to the Medical College of Georgia where doctors continued lifesaving measures for another 45 minutes before pronouncing him dead.

Area 2 Assistant Superintendent Rosie Berry said the Aiken County School District's crisis response team came to the middle school, along with other Area 2 counselors. They assisted North Augusta Middle School counselors in consoling students upset by their classmate's death. Those services will continue as needed, Berry said.

"We've also had community support through Public Safety and youth ministers from the faith-based community," she said. "Cody was a student of quality who played rec. ball and focused on his school work. He did very well in school."

She added the overwhelming response of folks in North Augusta demonstrated the "school is an extension of the community and the community is an extension of the school."

Fox's local acquaintances included David Sons, middle-school pastor at First Baptist Church of North Augusta. Sons described the NAMS eighth-grader as "a great kid" who recently came to faith in Christ. He recalled having spoken to several of Fox's classmates and getting the idea that the teen was "always quick to be friendly and smile, and ... will be sorely missed." He added, "I'm thankful for the time that I had to spend with him, and just the few conversations that he and I had."

Petric Blocker, who coached Fox through the Belvedere Braves squad in Dixie Youth baseball, described him as "just a genuine young man" - mild-mannered and always ready with a kind word. "He was always a team player - never complained about playing a certain position. Wherever I put him, he played."

Blocker's son, Jordan, a 13-year-old seventh-grader at North Augusta Middle School, added, "He was smart. He was good in class. He made all As and he was always smiling. He was never sad or anything like that. Like, when he walked into the gym, he was always happy."

Martiese Griffin, a 14-year-old in eighth grade at the school, recalled knowing Cody as a schoolmate and also a baseball teammate - "a good student, a good friend," in his words.

Griffin said that Tuesday's school activities included having teachers allow time for students to discussion the situation. Some students also distributed "bluish-turquoise" bracelets in the teen's memory.

The color was apparently Fox's favorite, he said, adding that some students wore black to school Tuesday in connection with the death, and Wednesday's plan was for wearing black and blue. "We just don't want to forget," he said.

Calling this a "hurting time" for everyone, Berry said she hoped it would be a "healing time" as well as the school works to keep some level of "normalcy" during the week. She noted the faculty as well as the students are going through a heartbreaking time. She mentioned one 36-year veteran teacher who saw Fox the period before he collapsed.

"She said this was her first experience with such a tragedy in all her years of teaching," said Berry. And at the other side of the career curve is P.E. teacher Bush.

"We're working to reassure him he did all he could do," she said of his efforts to save Cody. We just have to cherish the time we have with our students," she said, acknowledging that probably nothing is more devastating than losing a child.

In a news release, Berry and Aiken County Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt extended their sympathies to the student's family, as well as his classmates, faculty and staff at the school.

News editor Phyllis Britt contributed to this story.