Fairfield teen Maxwell King dies after hospitalization

FAIRFIELD TWP, Ohio - Maxwell King, 14 of Fairfield died Tuesday after he collapsed at the East Butler County YMCA.

King was playing pick-up basketball when, according to YMCA staff, he walked into the hall and collapsed.

"We had a member who initially spotted him and we then put our emergency action plan into place," said Executive Director Karrie Gabbard.

That plan included calling 911, performing CPR and ultimately using an Automated External Defibrillator or AED.

"The AED machine did advise us to administer an electrical shock during the rescue," said Gabbard.

Gabbard says the AED did not advise a second shock and when King was taken from the scene her staff indicated to her that he was showing faint signs of life.

"I am very proud of our staff and the members who helped with the rescue. They did everything within their training and within their knowledge," said Gabbard.

King was taken to the new Children's Hospital location in Liberty Township and then flown to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati.

Further details as to what caused King's death have yet to be released.

King was an honor student at Fairfield Freshman School.

He was also an avid basketball player and fan of Laker's star Kobe Bryant. King was trying to improve his basketball game so he could make the school's team.

"He did very well in my class," said Beth Toerner King's English teacher, "I know that he was incredibly focused and he was putting in all the work he had to get better at basketball."

"I would read in his notebook entries that he wrote and it would say, 'Basketball practice was so hard today but that's the way you get better. It's ok it was really tough but I'm ok with that because I know it's going to make me better,'" said Toerner.

A hallway at Fairfield Freshman is now wallpapered with signs, posters and cards from King's classmates expressing their love and regret at his passing. His nickname was 'The King.'

Notes of 'Long live the King' were on many of the cards, a sad irony.

"The students have been our strength through this," said Principal Katie Pospisil filled with emotion. She spent the day comforting students but said she's derived her strength from the same young people she's been trying to comfort.

"Lots of hugs from the students and the staff has been fantastic but the kids they came together and they really showed amazing community and the family atmosphere that we have here. I've been blown away by their gestures of love," said Pospisil.

It has not been released whether, or not, King had previous health issues. The high school's principal Katie Pospisil expressed her condolences to the family and fellow students on Twitter.

" Thoughts and prayers for the students at FFS. Counselors will be available for students support during this very difficult time," Pospisil tweeted.

Authorities have not released any additional details about King's death.

Stay with 9 News and WCPO.com for updates as they become available.