E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Carissa Ray’s post from Friday morning introduced us to the tragic last chapter of Wes Leonard's life story. The high school athlete collapsed after scoring the overtime, game-winning shot in the final seconds of his team’s last game. The team and its fans were beginning to celebrate their victory, which capped an undefeated season, when Leonard collapsed on the basketball court.
Emergency personnel tried to revive Leonard for an hour. He arrived at a local hospital at 9:20pm in cardiac arrest, and doctors were not able to restart his heart. He was pronounced dead a little more than an hour later.
The medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was cardiac arrest brought on by dilated cardiomyopathy. The condition enlarges and weakens heart muscles, and it can go undetected.
Leave a Comment:
Remember to embrace every second that you get, with every breathe you take. It is things like this that happen, that should remind us all to live your lives with the fullest amount of zest and happiness- you don't know when it will be taken from you. My condolences to this young man's family, friends, team and community.
I'm from the area from where the young athlete was from....it is so tragic. I was diagnosed with the same condition Dilated Cardiomyopathy. I was lucky because I did have symptoms. In 2003, I received a new heart. Unfortunately now, I have three children who could have this condition. My son is 16 and is being tested as we speak. He is an athlete also and it scares me. Have your kids checked and given the okay to play sports if a medical condition runs in the family.
This is getting ridiculous. I have never seen so many athletes (young ones) pass away. A Cardiac stress test, etc., should be performed on every athlete as a part of their physicals every year. This is so very sad and possibly unnecessary if heart tests were taken. I just thank God that my sons didn't die while playing all the sports they did, and some they still do. God Bless the family and friends of this young man, and be with them throughout this time.
This is so sad, my prayers for all envolved. I hope there will a nation wide collection in his memory.
Our prayers are with Wes's family, friends and teammates - hismessageforyou.com
My sympathy to his family and heartfelt feelings for his friends, teammates and coaches - what a tragic loss. There is probably nothing anyone can say at this time that will help these young players cope with their loss or fully understand. Even doctors and their medical explanations are of little help - only time will help their pain and sorrow. They can gain strength in knowing they cared deeply for ther friend and for one another - they are not feeling this sorrow alone.