A lack of oxygen and brain swelling due to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the body may have led to the death of Avondale College head boy Nathan Woolley at the weekend, a leading asthma doctor says.
The 17-year-old, who captained the school's 1st XI, collapsed at a soccer match at the school on Saturday.
Asthma New Zealand president Allen Liang said a sudden collapse was unusual, and was a sign of a buildup of carbon dioxide.
Dr Liang said asthmatics should stop immediately when feeling a shortness of breath, but those with an "athletic drive" would often push on.
Despite this, he said, asthma should not deter anybody from participating at any level of sport.
He said more than 20 per cent of medal winners at the 2000 Sydney Olympics were asthmatics.
People with asthma should continue exercising, as long as their conditions were assessed by their doctor or asthma specialist as "well controlled".
Teachers and students at Avondale College have paid tribute to Nathan, who collapsed just 10 minutes into a game against Macleans College.
Seventh former Aneel Kesry knew Nathan as "a top guy".
Nathan was well-liked, and anyone could approach him, Aneel said.
"Even if you didn't really know him, you could call him a friend."
He said Nathan was "mad about soccer" and was always the first person on the pitch and the last off.
Nathan was initially revived by ambulance officers but died shortly after his arrival at Auckland City Hospital, about 1pm.
His father, Mark, and the school's acting principal, Phil Hill, arrived at the match just in time to find ambulance officers giving an unconscious Nathan CPR.
Although he suffered from asthma, Nathan was an otherwise fit and healthy young man whose sudden death friends and staff found difficult to believe.
News of his death spread quickly, and more than 100 students, teachers and friends gathered on Saturday night to share stories.
With tears in their eyes, Nathan's team-mates paid tribute to their captain of two years.
"He was the fittest guy in the team. He never missed a training session," said one.
Said another: "He was just a great guy in every aspect. He was intelligent, a generally nice and popular guy and he got on with everyone."
Deputy principal Fran Wynne said Nathan was hugely popular at the 2600-pupil college.
"The school is in deep mourning."
David Parker, 17, who played guitar in a Christian rock band with Nathan, called the drummer "a really cool guy" liked by all.
The Flying Rhinos had recorded a demo tape just last week.
Mr Hill said the death of someone like Nathan with such huge potential was not only a huge loss to the school but a loss for the country.
Nathan was not only highly respected by students and staff but widely loved. "There was a warmth to him ... just the way he related to people."
Principal Brent Lewis, who was in Bangkok on his way to Europe, booked the first flight home when he heard of Nathan's death.
Nathan Woolley
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