By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-26 15:19:18 | Updated at 2024-09-30 21:36:19
4 days ago
A fit and healthy teenage boy suddenly died during wrestling practice after suffering a medical emergency.
Freddy Espinal, a 17-year-old aspiring police officer, tragically died on Sunday, prompting an outpouring of grief from his tightknit Massachusetts community.
More than 100 friends and students from Peabody gathered on Tuesday night to farewell the popular, charismatic student.
His girlfriend, Gisella Candido, told the crowd at the vigil that Freddie 'was stubborn, caring, [and] would always go out of his way to make sure that people were OK.'
'At first, it was unbelievable. I was just with him on Friday. Like, I just saw him. I was just hugging him, holding him and then, like, just like that, it's like, he's gone.'
Freddy Espinal, a 17-year-old aspiring police officer, tragically died on Sunday, prompting an outpouring of grief from his tightknit Massachusetts community
District Attorney Paul Tucker worked with Espinal over the summer after meeting with the teenager and his dad 'to talk about his interest in becoming a police officer someday.'
At the time, he described Espinal as a 'respectful, polite and personable young man who will follow his dream and succeed.'
On Tuesday, he issued a moving tribute, noting 'life sometimes presents unimaginable tragedies, and this being one hurts so many to the core.
'Freddy’s life was cut short by a medical emergency while at wrestling practice.
'His close knit family, friends and classmates are left in grief wondering why.
The teen's wrestling coach said: 'Freddy was a larger-than-life personality on and off the mat'
'Forever young now at 17, all who knew him are left wondering what great success and achievements he certainly would have accomplished.'
A GoFundMe has been set up on behalf of Espinal's grieving family.
The teen's wrestling coach said: 'Freddy was a larger-than-life personality on and off the mat. He was passionate about his family and wrestling which he worked incredibly hard at after falling in love with the sport his freshman year.
'Wrestling aside, I thoroughly enjoyed him as a person, he genuinely made me laugh with his antics and he was committed to his teammates and friends.
'I loved him and will miss him dearly.'
