Photos: PRP students dressed in white Tuesday to honor Max Gilpin

WHAS11 Coverage

Previous Stories:

JCPS to release findings in Gilpin death investigation

Coaches defend actions in Gilpin case

Community gathers to remember 15-year-old Max Gilpin

Monty Webb's blog explaining heat index

Some players, coaches re-examining practice policies to prevent heat-related illness after player’s death

Report: Kids denied water breaks at PRP football practice

(WHAS11) - The Jefferson County Public School system has completed their investigation into the death of a PRP High School football player.

They say the coaches were not at fault.  They also say Max Gilpin was already sick before he collapsed at practice.

Gilpin died a few days after the collapse at the hospital.

His parents signed forms at the hospital that say Max was already ill before practice that August day.

The doctor hired to review max Gilpin's medical records says Gilpin was hydrated when he collapsed and most likely died of sepsis secondary to a bacterial infection.

Gilpin collapsed during a practice when it was 94 degrees and his parents say he died of heat stroke.

No autopsy was ever performed on Gilpin’s body.

This final report concludes an almost yearlong investigation.

“I would challenge anyone to go through the information we have done the most thorough investigation and the most thorough review that the district has ever undertaken,” says JCPS Superintendent Dr. Sheldon Berman.

Jefferson County Public Schools is defending the length of time it took to release and complete the 270 page report.

They say the findings show that neither the district nor coaches violated any rules in regards to in regards to Max Gilpin’s death.

According to the district's doctor, Gilpin was already sick before practice last August when he collapsed and witnesses say he was taking creatine and was on adderall, an amphetamine taken for ADHD.

“A history and physical form completed my Max's parents indicated that Max was suffering from fever congestion and difficulty breathing prior to practice that day,” says Dr. Berman.

Max's father, Jeff Gilpin, confirmed to WHAS11 News last year that Max was sick the day before practice.

The district report also says Max's father stated that he has seen Max run harder in hotter weather.

The team was running the width of the football field when Max collapsed.

The district says it took five to 12 minutes after the collapse before an assistant coach called 911.

Dr Sheldon Berman says the athletes were getting enough water.

“It is very clear to me that there were four to five water breaks and that’s confirmed throughout this document so I think there is substantial evidence that there was plenty of water available,” he says.

WHAS11 News did get a statement from max Gilpin’s family, it says:  Max Gilpin’s parents were not notified nor were their attorneys that the school board would release its long overdue report today or that there would be a press conference.

They have not seen the report and therefore cannot comment until they have had an opportunity to review it.

The school district says they left messages for the parents attorneys yesterday about the findings.