Tate High School mourns student's death

CANTONMENT, Florida (WALA) - A Florida high school is in shock after losing one of its own. Gabe Carter, 15, of Tate High School collapsed in class and died at a nearby hospital Thursday.

Kristin Caperton is a freshman at Tate High School. She saw Carter everyday in class. They were good friends and group-mates.

“Gabe was really sweet, like a big teddy bear," Caperton said.

But Thursday, Carter acted differently.

“He’s usually on task, he’s a pretty smart guy," Caperton said. “We were reading out of this play, and Holder, who’s in our group too, he kept having to ask him, like telling him ‘Gabe it’s your turn, it’s your turn to read’ and he was just like ‘oh yeah’ and started reading.”

What happened next stunned everyone around.

"We were on the computers and his head fell forward and then we all turned toward him and you could see his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his mouth was open, and he started grunting, and he kicked back and fell on the floor. Me and Kim screamed, she was in our group too, and we ran for help," Caperton said.

When she got back, Carter wasn’t breathing. He was rushed to West Florida Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Caperton and her peers got the word that afternoon.

“It was hard, I was so sad," Caperton said. "I just started crying.”

Since the incident, Caperton and other students have been meeting with grief counselors on campus. Caperton says the sessions have been successful.

“I think it’s helped me because we’re not trying to run away from the fact that it happened, to cope with it, and just help get through it because if you deny it, you’re never going to get through it," Caperton said.

But as Caperton assured FOX10 News, Carter’s memory will never be forgotten.

“Friday morning before the first bell, we were all around the flag pole. We were just standing there praying for him," Caperton said.

Grief counselors will be available to help those at Tate High School cope with the tragedy. They will stay as long as needed.