Incredibly sad story out of Michigan: HS Hoops Player hits GW shot, then dies

[DeToxRox]

This is just unreal. Feel awful for everyone involved:

Fennville basketball star Wes Leonard dies after hitting game-winning shot

Fennville’s undefeated boys basketball season took a tragic turn Thursday night when standout player Wes Leonard collapsed on the court moments after leading the Blackhawks to a 57-55 overtime win against Bridgman at home.

The 16-year-old junior was rushed by ambulance to Holland Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death is unknown, according to hospital officials.

“The information that we have is that he made the game-winning basket, and that there were a number of players and fans out on the court, and Wes just collapsed,” said Deb Patterson, Holland Hospital’s patient care coordinator. “Wes arrived at 9:20 and paramedics were performing CPR on him. He was pronounced dead at 10:40.

“I don’t have any information at this point regarding an autopsy. That will be up to the medical examiner.”

Thursday’s game was the regular-season finale for the Blackhawks, who are 20-0. Fennville, ranked No. 6 in Class C, is scheduled to begin district play Monday at Lawrence.

Leonard, who scored more than 1,000 career points in basketball, starred on Fennville’s football team as well. Leonard earned all-state honorable mention recognition this past fall after quarterbacking the Blackhawks to the second round of the Division 6 state playoffs. He threw seven touchdown passes in a game against Bloomingdale in October.

The news stunned Bangor basketball coach Rocky Johnson, whose team played Fennville three times this season.

“It’s hard to stomach,” Johnson said. “We are all hurting now.

“My son and Wes played AAU in different programs, but we saw each other all summer, all spring, and he’s the kind of kid that I would make sure to say hi to him and he would go out of his way to say hi to me. He always had something good to say, all positives.”

[stevew]

He got shot after hitting his girlfriend?

[FF]

this is from my area, i have several friends that work at that hospital. sad, sad story.

[CrimsonFox]

WTF! That's crazy. Hank Gathers again?

[Solecismic]

This is sad. I've been to many a game at Fennville High - lived just a couple of miles away for a short time. I always liked the trips into the Fennville/Allegan area.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

WTF! That's crazy. Hank Gathers again?

That kind of sudden death is far more common than most would believe. It's the reason most high schools now have a defibrillator on site for all athletic events. I'm sure you're pretty close.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I just keep thinking about how many games I watched this year & how many kids I saw. Just awful

[JonInMiddleGA]

As if the story could get any worse, apparently he's the second athlete from the same school to die in the past year & a half. A 14 y/o wrestler suffered a seizure at home following a wrestling match and died in January 2010.

Earlier in the week, the coach talked about Leonard in an interview as the season wound down "In an interview with The Sentinel at Tuesday’s practice, Klingler talked about how Leonard had a great drive to succeed and that he saw the “bigger picture.”

“That’s what makes him a little different. He takes care of his body better than probably anybody I’ve ever coached,” Klingler said Tuesday. “Spends a lot of time on his own in the weight room. He’s a special kid.”"

[Lathum]

That kind of sudden death is far more common than most would believe. It's the reason most high schools now have a defibrillator on site for all athletic events. I'm sure you're pretty close.

Long QT syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_QT_syndrome)

[BYU 14]

This is terribly sad, our HS added AED's 3 years ago and thank goodness they have never been needed.

It just is beyond comprehension to think kids like this that are so athletically fit can die suddenly.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

This is amazingly sad. At least the kid went out having a great time, enjoying what he loved...

[RainMaker]

That kind of sudden death is far more common than most would believe. It's the reason most high schools now have a defibrillator on site for all athletic events. I'm sure you're pretty close.
Defribrillators are a waste of money and don't improve the chances of survival. Chest compressions are just as effective in the rare even that someone suffering major cardiac arrest is able to be helped.

This is a terriblly sad story. I wonder if there is a way to test for this stuff beforehand.

[BYU 14]

Defribrillators are a waste of money and don't improve the chances of survival. Chest compressions are just as effective in the rare even that someone suffering major cardiac arrest is able to be helped.

This is a terriblly sad story. I wonder if there is a way to test for this stuff beforehand.

Chest compressions are not effective in the case of arrythmia's, that is the reason for the Defibrillators. When an athlete dies like this they usually don't go straight into cardiac arrest. In the case of long QT syndrome or cardiomyopathy they most often will go into ventricular fibrillation, then cardiac arrest if regular rythm is not restored at which point it is often too late.

The Defibrillator can detect the irregularity if the heart has not stopped and deliver the appropriate shock to restore rythm. It does not work everytime, but these have been directly credited with saving two HS athletes lives in Arizona in the past year. Compressions are only a means to keep oxygen and blood circulating until advanced life saving procedures can be employed.

In terms of testing EKG's can detect long QT, but there are some cases that go undetected. Echocardiograms can detect cardiomyopathy which is the leading cause of sudden death in young athletes and there is a program through the Anthony Bates foundation that provides these screenings for young athletes in Arizona

Anthony Bates Foundation (http://www.anthonybates.org/anthonybatesfoundation/)

[RainMaker]

Home Defibrillators May Not Be Worth Their Cost - Health Blog - WSJ (http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/04/02/home-defibrillators-may-not-be-worth-their-cost/)

I'm basing it off those studies that came out a couple years ago. Maybe on this specific case, but in general it seeemd the survival rates were the same.

[BYU 14]

Home Defibrillators May Not Be Worth Their Cost - Health Blog - WSJ (http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/04/02/home-defibrillators-may-not-be-worth-their-cost/)

I'm basing it off those studies that came out a couple years ago. Maybe on this specific case, but in general it seeemd the survival rates were the same.

I don't see the article saying they are a waste of money, just cost prohibitive. What do you think the paramedics do when they arrive and take over from someone administering CPR, they often use a defibrillator. CPR is still effective, but I have gone through enough training and certification over the years to know I would always want an AED present around athletes I was coaching. Remember, we are not talking about "tranditional" heart attacks here, but sudden death brought on by irregular heart rythms due to underlying causes.

[RainMaker]

My bad then. I just remember seeing a lot of negative coverage of home defibrillators.

Would these really help with heart defect issues?

I had a friend who died playing soccer with friends in the park. Sad thing was that he had just gotten back from his second tour in Iraq.

[BYU 14]

My bad then. I just remember seeing a lot of negative coverage of home defibrillators.

Would these really help with heart defect issues?

I had a friend who died playing soccer with friends in the park. Sad thing was that he had just gotten back from his second tour in Iraq.

I think there may be a variance between brands and you also have to keep them maintained (The pads have a shelf life)

They could have possibly helped in this case, the key is response time but who knows for sure. The two cases I mentioned here were both due to congenital defects, so they could still help. I just looked at the pictures from the game.....It really just breaks my heart to see him being mobbed by teammates, knowing that less than a minute later he would go into cardiac arrest.

The real disturbing thing here is how an athlete can perform at a high level through 2 sports, then all of a sudden it is triggered with no forwarning.

[JonInMiddleGA]

A perfect shot, a perfect season, then heartbreak *| ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/sports/a-perfect-shot-a-860484.html)
An autopsy conducted Friday by the Ottawa County medical examiner showed Leonard died of cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart.

[CrimsonFox]

That kind of sudden death is far more common than most would believe. It's the reason most high schools now have a defibrillator on site for all athletic events. I'm sure you're pretty close.

Well some bodies weren't meant for the rough treatment they get during sports. People with heart defects should not be doing this kind of thing. SUch a waste.

[rowech]

Well some bodies weren't meant for the rough treatment they get during sports. People with heart defects should not be doing this kind of thing. SUch a waste.

Are you going to pay for EKG's for every kid in junior high and high school athletics in America?

[Eaglesfan27]

I don't see the article saying they are a waste of money, just cost prohibitive. What do you think the paramedics do when they arrive and take over from someone administering CPR, they often use a defibrillator. CPR is still effective, but I have gone through enough training and certification over the years to know I would always want an AED present around athletes I was coaching. Remember, we are not talking about "tranditional" heart attacks here, but sudden death brought on by irregular heart rythms due to underlying causes.

Exactly. AED's are not a waste of money. They save lives. However, they are expensive.

[CrimsonFox]

Are you going to pay for EKG's for every kid in junior high and high school athletics in America?

Yes. Yes I Am.

okay obviously I have to QUALIFY my statement. Those that KNOW they have heart defects should be more careful with what they choose to do. And by those I would say all those who were babies once and have been examined by a doctor and found to have heart defects.

[rowech]

Yes. Yes I Am.

okay obviously I have to QUALIFY my statement. Those that KNOW they have heart defects should be more careful with what they choose to do. And by those I would say all those who were babies once and have been examined by a doctor and found to have heart defects.

If a kid has a known defect that could kill him, there's no excuse for letting him play sports and ultimately, the parents that allow them to play will have made very poor decisions.

I haven't heard whether this kid had a known defect or it just happened.

[Lathum]

A kid with a known defect wouldn't be allowed to play any organized event that unless a doctor cleared them.

My 12 year old niece has long QT and the school is absurdly careful with her, even going to the point of not letting her participate in some activities that the doctor has said she is fine to do.

[JonInMiddleGA]

haven't heard whether this kid had a known defect or it just happened.

Haven't seen anything that indicated this was known, seems doubtful IMO since he was also their starting QB. Not likely he would have been cleared for that if the problem was known.

[molson]

Are you going to pay for EKG's for every kid in junior high and high school athletics in America?

I had read this somewhere, and am just posting this particular article as my quickest available cite, but ECG's (I think that's the same as an EKG) have been mandatory for young athletes in Italy since 1982. They estimate it costs $88/test and saves 2.1 life-years per 1,000 athletes screened.

ECG testing of young athletes cost-effective in preventing deaths, study shows (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301173816.htm)

Of course, in America, that's probably like $5,000/test instead of $88 (being facetious, I think, though I'm not exactly sure HOW facetious), the point is just that it's not a crazy idea. And I think when a country requires thousands/millions of these things - the equipment/costs of the test would go down (talking normal economics - which of course doesn't apply to our health care system...again, just a thought).

[JonInMiddleGA]

I had read this somewhere, and am just posting this particular article as my quickest available cite, but ECG's (I think that's the same as an EKG) have been mandatory for young athletes in Italy since 1982. ...

Of course, there's also the issue of there being as estimated 44 million kids in the U.S. participating in youth sports (http://www.ncys.org/). Italy's entire population is about 60 million.

ECG cost estimate in the U.S., btw, looks like $1,500 per.

[molson]

Of course, there's also the issue of there being as estimated 44 million kids in the U.S. participating in youth sports (http://www.ncys.org/). Italy's entire population is about 60 million.



Isn't that just a matter of relative scale? There's more of everything in the united states - athletes, money, doctors. You're just multiplying out everything. I believe in Italy the athlete is responsible for getting the ECG, just like an American might be required to take a physical before they play football.

Of course, at $1,500 v. $88, it's a no-go.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Isn't that just a matter of relative scale? There's more of everything in the united states - athletes, money, doctors. You're just multiplying out everything. I believe in Italy the athlete is responsible for getting the ECG, just like an American might be required to take a physical before they play football.

Of course, at $1,500 v. $88, it's a no-go.

Even at $150 it's a no-go in the U.S. frankly. Most jurisdictions have to offer waivers on $25 or $50 registration fees, now you want to add $150(0) to that cost? Even at $150, you're talking about 6.6 BILLION dollars of largely new cost. Not seeing personal economies absorbing that blow, especially not for something that's as random as this as well an imprecise predictor of future problems (i.e. how many wouldn't be caught or prevented[/i]. You'd just end up with outlaw youth leagues & what not.

edit to add: Definitely worth noting here that the figure I grabbed initially is apparently the "uninsured" rate. Typical rate for insurance companies looks to be around $50 give or take. By the time you add in office visit fees, hospital fees, reading fees, paperwork fees, etc., I'm sure you end up at least pushing $200 per, even for insured.

[jeff061]

Finances aside, it should be up to the parents and not mandated. Maybe hand out an educational leaflet as part of the registration process, but leave it at that.

[MizzouRah]

Very sad :(

[BYU 14]

Finances aside, it should be up to the parents and not mandated. Maybe hand out an educational leaflet as part of the registration process, but leave it at that.

A lot of progress has been made in this area Jeff, especially here in AZ as I mentioned earlier with the Anthony Bates foundation and others. A lot of great health care professionals donate their time to put these screening events on. The awareness has definitely been raised. The areas still lacking the most though are likely the rural communites where this young man lived as I would imagine there are not as many resources in those areas.

[Eaglesfan27]

Of course, there's also the issue of there being as estimated 44 million kids in the U.S. participating in youth sports (http://www.ncys.org/). Italy's entire population is about 60 million.

ECG cost estimate in the U.S., btw, looks like $1,500 per.

Where are you getting that 1500 estimate? I've always heard about 150 per EKG which I do realize is prohibitive for a lot of athletes, but I think worthwhile.

Edit: Nevermind, just read down further and see your quote of 50 for insured which seems much more in line with what I've heard.

[fantom1979]

Would most insurance even cover a EKG for a 15 year old with no symptoms?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Fennville advances in first game without fallen star Wes Leonard - Prep Rally - High School* - Yahoo! Sports (http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Fennville-advances-in-first-game-without-fallen-?urn=highschool-331012)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Wes Leonard's brother accepts Fennville district trophy after thriller - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel (http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/highschoolhoops/x904840438/Fennville-basketball-claims-district-title-completes-trying-week-since-death-of-teammate-Wes-Leonard)

Come from behind win lets Fennville advance. Leading scorer for the past two games? The player who is starting in place of Leonard.

[Matthean]

Article in SI

You may have heard about the Michigan high schooler who - 02.20.12 - SI Vault (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1194912/index.htm)