Cameron Espinosa, 13, dies after bitten by fire ants in football game

A BOY, 13, was in a huddle with his football teammates at half-time when he started yelling: 'Ants, ant, ants!' He died in hospital four days later.

Bit by fire ants ... Cameron Espinosa (right) died four days later in hospital. Picture: Facebook

A BOY, 13, died after being attacked by fire ants as he warmed up for the second half of a school American football game.

Eighth grade student Cameron Espinosa was in a huddle with his teammates at

Paul R Haas Middle School in Corpus Christi, Texas, when he started yelling, "Ants! Ants! Ants!"

He then collapsed and died four days in hospital from an apparent allergic reaction to the multiple bites by the fire ants, the New York Post reported.

Corpus Christi school district spokeswoman Lorette Williams said Cameron used a water bottle to try and remove the ants, but he eventually fell unconscious.

The game resumed after Cameron was taken to hospital, but it was later halted when the severity of his condition became apparent.

Bitten by fire ants ... Cameron Espinosa (right) died four days later in hospital. Picture: Facebook

Queensland residents and businesses asked to tackle fire ants

Williams said Cameron did not know he was allergic to ants and the school had no record of any allergies.

However, his heartbroken mother asked why no medics were on hand who might have saved

him.

Medics are assigned to high school varsity football games in Texas, but not to middle school games, Williams said. However, coaches are trained in first-aid and use of CPR and a defibrillator, she said. A defibrillator was used on Cameron at the field before he was taken to the hospital by ambulance, she said.

"It's been devastating to lose my baby that way," his mum Josephine Limon told KRIS-TV. "My baby could be here if there were more trained personnel on the field, that could have, an EpiPen or something could have saved him."

Allergic reaction ... A boy shows off his fire ant bites.