Two Young Lives Suddenly Lost
17-year-old Cameron Wheatley and 15-year-old Devonte Mumphrey were playing high school basketball when their lives ended.
In February 2022, these two teenagers from Illinois and Texas collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) on the same day.
Their grief-stricken family and friends remembered them as healthy, happy, and positive.
Most tragic deaths of young people and children from SCA while playing sports are preventable.
One Life Saved from the Unexpected
Christian Erikson, the Danish soccer star, collapsed on the field of play from sudden cardiac arrest during the European Championship match in June 2021.
He was 29 at the time.
“He was gone… And it was cardiac arrest,” Dr. Boesen, the team doctor, said in a videoconference with reporters. “How close were we? I don’t know. We got him back after one defib.”
Erikson likely didn’t notice anything wrong physically leading up to the incident.
The warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest in young adults and children are often ignored.
Athletes run, jump, swim, and push themselves in a variety of other ways during practices and competitions.
They are likely to take the signs of a coming cardiac arrest such as rapid heartbeat, chest pains, and shortness of breath for routine biofeedback from physical exertion.
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) Can Save Lives Before EMTs Can Arrive
Death from cardiac arrest can occur in minutes.
Every school, college, and organization that hosts athletic competitions at their facilities should have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) ready.
AEDs prevent death from cardiac arrest by correcting irregular heart rhythms.
You have likely seen TV shows where someone unconscious is resuscitated by medical personnel.
Working feverishly against time, the doctor or nurse presses a padded square connected by cable to a machine to the patient’s torso, then counts down and says “Clear!”
The machine makes an electronic popping noise as it issues an electric shock that jolts the patient’s torso, causing them to jerk up and down.
Compassionate Wrongful Death Lawyers
If you have lost a loved one to an avoidable cardiac arrest during a public athletic event, you need the right representation.
McCready Law’s wrongful death attorneys know how to negotiate and win settlements.
We promise to work tirelessly to ensure that you receive compensation for the losses you have suffered because of the death of your loved one.
100% Free Consultation
To learn more about your legal options, please call our office today at (773) 779-9885.