By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether a drug overdose caused a West Rowan High School student to have an apparent heart attack.
Sheriff George Wilhelm said the student passed out in class around 10:40 a.m. Monday.
“The student was dead and then revived,” he said.
Early reports indicated the student had a heart attack, though emergency medical personnel were careful not to be specific about the student’s condition.
The student was taken by ambulance to Rowan Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Hospital officials said the student, Raquel Hartsell, 16, is listed in fair condition.
Wilhelm said deputies responded to a reported drug overdose at the school.
“It’s very unusual for this to happen to a 16-year-old sitting in class,” he said.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.