Bay City Mourns Sudden Death of 14-Year-Old Student Who Collapsed After Getting Off School Bus
Bay City, Michigan — The Bay City community is reeling from the sudden and tragic loss of 14-year-old Hayden Lee Davis, an eighth-grade student at Handy Middle School, who collapsed shortly after getting off his school bus and died approximately an hour later.
The incident occurred on April 15, 2025, when Hayden was returning home from school. According to police reports obtained by MLive and The Bay City Times, Hayden was on a phone call with a friend during his walk home and expressed that he “thought he was having a heart attack” before collapsing. A neighbor found him unresponsive on the sidewalk and called emergency services. First responders performed CPR and transported him to McLaren Bay Region Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
Hayden’s mother informed authorities that he had no known medical conditions and had been in good health during a physical exam a year prior. An autopsy has been performed, but the official cause of death is pending the results of a toxicology report. Authorities have found no evidence of foul play in the case.
Bay City Public Schools Interim Superintendent Rick Seebeck expressed the district’s condolences, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of one of our Handy Middle School students. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this incredibly difficult time.” The school has made counseling services available to students and staff to help them cope with the loss.
In the wake of Hayden’s death, his aunt, Shavonne Doulas, organized a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses. The fundraiser has garnered significant support, raising over $14,500. Doulas described her nephew as a bright and kind-hearted boy who brought joy to everyone he met.
As the community awaits further information from the ongoing investigation, tributes to Hayden continue to pour in from classmates, teachers, and neighbors, all mourning the loss of a young life taken too soon.