A 17-year-old Georgia girl died Monday after collapsing during dance team practice.CBS 46 reports Elyse Purefoy was training with her team at Arabia Mountain High School in Lithonia when she passed out on the track. She had just completed several laps. Emergency crews were called to the scene, but Purefoy's heart stopped on the way to the hospital and she could not be revived. Her father, Hank Purefoy, said extreme dehydration may have played a role in his daughter's death. "She was a beautiful spirit. I'm going to miss her. That's it," he said.Teammates told reporters that the teen had asked coaches for a water break several times but was denied. "I think the schools need to take it more seriously when they hear complaints from their, from their participants, and taking it seriously cause I think a lot of it is over looked sometimes as you being weak," friend Arianna Ameler said. In a statement released Monday afternoon, DeKalb County Schools say the entire school community "mourns the passing of a member of the school's dance team. Our hearts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time."The family is accepting donations to cover funeral costs."Thank you to everyone who has called, prayed and shown support during our time of bereavement. There are no words to describe the hurt and loss we feel," the GoFundMe page reads.

A 17-year-old Georgia girl died Monday after collapsing during dance team practice.

CBS 46 reports Elyse Purefoy was training with her team at Arabia Mountain High School in Lithonia when she passed out on the track. She had just completed several laps.


Emergency crews were called to the scene, but Purefoy's heart stopped on the way to the hospital and she could not be revived.

Her father, Hank Purefoy, said extreme dehydration may have played a role in his daughter's death.

"She was a beautiful spirit. I'm going to miss her. That's it," he said.

Teammates told reporters that the teen had asked coaches for a water break several times but was denied.

"I think the schools need to take it more seriously when they hear complaints from their, from their participants, and taking it seriously cause I think a lot of it is over looked sometimes as you being weak," friend Arianna Ameler said.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, DeKalb County Schools say the entire school community "mourns the passing of a member of the school's dance team. Our hearts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time."

The family is accepting donations to cover funeral costs.

"Thank you to everyone who has called, prayed and shown support during our time of bereavement. There are no words to describe the hurt and loss we feel," the GoFundMe page reads.

