Oct. 15 - Joshua Damptey had written a story he hoped to have published, and he was about to send it to an editor. He'd written his cover letter and put it in an envelope with the story. He had everything ready to go, but never got the chance to send it.

Damptey's life was cut short Friday Oct. 10 when he collapsed at about 2:30 p.m., while running with the Oak Point Running Club, according to an Eden Prairie Schools spokesperson. He was transported to the hospital, where he passed away.

He was 10.

"He was just an awesome kid, a true gift ... a true gift," said Rob Gooding, Joshua's fifth-grade teacher at Oak Point Intermediate Elementary. "A joy to teach."

Gooding said Damptey was an athletic, musical kid who liked to play tetherball at recess and never was in trouble. Demptey played soccer, football and basketball, and he was going to be the student council representative from Gooding's class.

"I'm extremely saddened, like most of the community is and shocked," Gooding said.

This morning, The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office was still working to determine what caused Damptey's death.

Superintendent Melissa Krull addressed the sad news in an e-mail to district patrons.

"We send our heartfelt condolences to Joshua's family. We are incredibly saddened by the news of his death," Krull said in the e-mail. “Everyone has such wonderful stories about this amazing little boy. He touched the lives of so many people in our schools and in the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joshua's family and friends."

Social workers and counselors were available Monday at all of Eden Prairie Schools for any students who needed them. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Gooding said Damptey was an inspiration, not just to other kids, but to adults as well.

"If you had met him yourself you would have known right away," he said, pausing, "he was an inspiring young man."

This article was posted here on Oct. 15. It will appear with updates in the Oct. 16 print edition of the Eden Prairie Sun-Current.

This article was posted here on Oct. 15. It will appear with updates in the Oct. 16 print edition of the Eden Prairie Sun-Current.