Students and staff at Franklin High School are mourning the sudden loss of 16-year-old Leslie Noble, a member of the school’s football team.

The teen died during practice on Wednesday in Reisterstown after experiencing a medical emergency.

“I saw a bunch of firetrucks, ambulances, and all I knew was they said that a child had collapsed on the field,” said Sharon Johnson, a staff member at Franklin High School.

This loss is devastating for the school and the entire community.

The Baltimore County Fire Department received a call at 9:18 a.m. for a student experiencing a medical emergency on the football field.

When responders arrived, they found the 16-year-old in critical condition, with resuscitative efforts in progress.

EMS crews continued trying to resuscitate Noble while they rushed him to a nearby hospital.

He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

“I didn’t even know it was Leslie until later when the principal came around and everybody was all upset and emotional and crying and everything,” Johnson said.

Later that day, Principal Kieran J. O’Connell broke the news to the school community.

“It is with profound sadness that I inform you of the death of a Franklin High School student,” O’Connell said. “The student experienced a medical emergency this morning and was transported to the hospital where he later passed away. We are devastated by this news.”

On Thursday, the Baltimore County Public Schools traumatic loss team came to the school to provide support and counseling for students and staff, like Sharon Johnson, a building service worker at Franklin.

“They’re just really sad about it. Yeah, the coaches and the principal and everyone who knew him,” Johnson said.

Johnson says she would greet Noble every day at school.

“He was very well-mannered. He was a sweet, sweet boy who is going to be really missed,” she said.

According to the Maryland Office of the Medical Examiner, the cause of Noble’s death was still undetermined as of Friday afternoon.