DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — School officials confirm an Arabia Mountain High School student died.
The DeKalb County School District confirmed the student was a member of the school's dance team.
11Alive's Hope Ford spoke to family, who identified the student as 17-year-old Elyse Purefoy. Her brother Malik said he was the one who dropped her off at practice around 7 a.m. Monday morning.
He said he noticed she was tired and seemed grumpy, but didn't think anything of it because it was so early in the morning.
"Today started just like any other day. I made you breakfast and lunch, and hugged you and told you to have fun at dance training. I smiled as I saw you and your brother get in the car to drive you to practice, but who could have known that you would not be coming home to us," wrote family on a GoFundMe account.
Malik told 11Alive that Elyse has passed out during practice in the past, but they don't believe she had any pre-existing conditions that would have led to her death.
"The doctors did their best to bring you back but your heart just stopped working," family wrote.
"We will miss you so much," it reads.
A statement from the district said the "entire DeKalb County School District community, and especially the Arabia Mountain High School family, 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 statement concluded.
Family, meanwhile, has established the GoFundMe account to help raise money in her memory.
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