Preliminary autopsy shows basketball player died of cardiac arrest

(WHAS11) - An autopsy is in providing new details as to how a 15-year-old boy died after trying out for a basketball team in Franklin County.

Waseeq Shahid collapsed late Monday afternoon at Western Hills High School and later died.

WHAS 11'S Jacqueline McLean talked on the phone with the deputy coroner of Franklin County Tuesday.
The preliminary autopsy results show this 15-year-old freshman had several abnormal problems with his heart, which caused cardiac arrest.

Deputy Coroner Kelly Adams says he doesn't think the parents knew about these heart problems and he also says it's unlikely they would have shown up during a school physical.

It may take up to six weeks before a full report is complete.

This won't erase the sadness Waseeq's classmates are feeling, but at least his family and friends can understand why his death was so quick. 

On the surface, it looks like school as usual at Western Hills High in Frankfort. The basketball tryout signs are still up.

"I cried for over an hour last night," said Alyssa Meece, a classmate. 

And students are back playing ball, only now the entire school, especially the gym, is filled with sad memories.

"It's very tough for everyone," said school psychologist Mike Stapleton.

On Monday, 15-year-old Waseeq Shahid stood on this very basketball court just starting to warm up for tryouts when he suddenly collapsed and later died leaving everyone around him stunned.

"I've never cried like that before. It was awful. He was one of us. It's shocking to see one of your classmates is gone," said Meece.

After Waseeq collapsed, it was just minutes before he was taken to the hospital, which is right across from the street from the school.  He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"For me and staff, especially those who had him through middle school, we are devastated," said School Psychologist Mike Stapleton, who spent the day helping kids and teachers cope.  He wants those grieving to talk about their loss.

"We need to grieve. We need to experience the loss," he said.

The kids at PRP in Louisville know well what this school is going through.

They sent over this bouquet of flowers.  That school lost a football player in practice just last year. 

This time, the tragedy is at Western Hills High on the basketball court.

Classmate Alyssa Meece has known Waseeq since grammar school.  She says he was always talking basketball.

"He would come up to me and say Alyssa, did you see this game between Dwight Wade and Cleveland?”
Waseeq's friends are doing what they can to remember him. 
Everyone is signing this banner to give to his parents. Summer Shockley says she will remember her friend's great sense of humor. 

"He was like no one can pronounce my name and when I got it right, he was like wow. He was like no one can pronounce my name," said Shockley.

The funeral took place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Elizabethtown. The school's entire coaching staff was expected to be there.