Tennessee Teen Athlete Dies of Heat Stroke

Joshua Henderson, a 16-year-old football player at Bolton High School in Arlington, Tennessee, died on July 26 following complications from a severe heat stroke sustained during a July 7 football practice. He received intensive care at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital for nearly three weeks but ultimately succumbed to organ failure. Henderson’s passing makes him one of over 150 heat-related deaths in the U.S. in 2025, drawing national attention to the risks of exertional heat stroke among high school athletes. His family, school, and community remembered him as a beloved and promising student and athlete. A GoFundMe campaign was established to help with funeral expenses. The tragedy highlights the increasing dangers of heat illness for athletes amid rising nationwide temperatures.