Palm Desert High School student dies during water polo practice

A teenager who was expected to begin his senior year at Palm Desert High School in the Fall died on Tuesday night while practicing water polo in Indio, officials said.

Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann said crews responded to a medical emergency at Shadow Hills High School, 39225 Jefferson Street, shortly before 9 p.m. after someone called reporting an unconscious young man in the pool area.

Witnesses said he collapsed after playing water polo.

Christian Fernandez Morales, 16, was rushed to JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, where the Coroner’s office was summoned later in the night.

He was pronounced dead at 10:27 p.m.

Morales was remembered by his friends on social media on Wednesday, where one person said, “May you rest in peace, what a horrible way to die. My thoughts are with your family.”

Another friend said, “I never thought he would leave so soon. I saw him (Monday), and he was fine. Now today he’s gone.”

The coroner’s office is now investigating why Morales collapsed and died. A representative told KESQ more medical tests will be conducted.