Posted on 11/20/2011 7:06:21 PM PST by kcvl
(CNN) -- University of Arkansas authorities say they see no "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the death of a 19-year-old football player who was was found dead in his room Sunday.
Garrett Uekman, a sophomore tight end for the Razorbacks, was found unconscious and unresponsive in his room about 11:15 a.m., the university said in a written statement Sunday afternoon. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after noon.
A roommate last saw Uekman playing video games about an hour earlier, "and he appeared to be in good health," the university said. An autopsy will be performed.
"The cause of Uekman's death is not known at this time, but there are no suspicious circumstances," the statement said.
Uekman, of Little Rock, "was living his dream of going to the U of A and playing football for the Razorbacks," parents Danny and Michelle Uekman said in a statement released through the school. He appeared in nine games for the 10-1 Arkansas squad this season.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Incredibly sad. Wow. College football sure has been rocked this year with tragedy. :( Many prayers for his family.
God be with this family.
Many prayers for his family, friends, and the Arkansas team. It’s truly sad to lose someone so young and seeingly so healthy.
Prayers for the family.
This is truly sad.
It is tragedies of this proportion that put things back into perspective. I am an ardent University of Alabama fan, balled up in the success of the SEC West. My prayers go up for the Uekman family. Perhaps the Razorbacks can dedicate the remainder of this season to this young man. I remember Chuckie Mullins at Ole Miss. So many people care so deeply. So sad. Words fail me.
It does put everything into perspective, that’s for sure.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’ football team was in mourning Sunday following the death of backup tight end Garrett Uekman.
The university said Uekman was pronounced dead at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville on Sunday.
The cause of death wasn’t immediately known, but the university said Uekman was found unconscious and unresponsive in his dorm room on campus at approximately 11:15 a.m. Sunday. He was last seen playing video games by a roommate approximately an hour earlier.
Arkansas tight end Garrett Uekman died in Fayetteville on Sunday. He played in nine games for the Razorbacks this year.
When emergency services personnel arrived, Uekman was in cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m.
“Garrett Uekman was a special member of our family, and we are all saddened by his passing,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement. “His loss is a terrible shock, and it makes you realize how precious life is.”
University police Lt. Mat Mills said there were no suspicious circumstances about Uekman’s death, and his body will be sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy.
Petrino spoke briefly Sunday night, fighting back tears as he read from a statement. He noted that Uekman’s final game, Arkansas’ 44-17 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday, was in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium — where he played his high school games while at Little Rock Catholic.
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long also spoke and said the university wasn’t aware of any pre-existing medical condition with Uekman. He said the Razorbacks’ players showed “shock and dismay” when told of Uekman’s death at an afternoon team meeting.
Long also said the school would hold a candlelight vigil Monday night in honor of Uekman and said his family had expressed the desire for the No. 3 Razorbacks to play Friday’s game at No. 1 LSU as scheduled.
“Certainly the feelings of Garrett’s family (are) that football and the University of Arkansas and the Razorbacks were very important to him,” Long said. “And that he would want us to continue to complete.”
The 19-year-old Uekman redshirted last season for the Razorbacks and played in nine games this season. He was majoring in applied exercise science.
Uekman’s parents, Danny and Michelle, released a statement through the university.
“Our son was living his dream of going to the U of A and playing football for the Razorbacks,” the statement read. “He loved his school, his coaches, and his teammates and classmates, and was an influence and inspiration to so many people. We ask for your love and prayers for Garrett, our family and his friends as we all cope with this heavy and painful loss.”
David Estes, the football coach at Little Rock Catholic where Uekman played in high school, said he was told by Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton that Uekman had been found by his roommate in his dorm room on campus. Estes said he watched Uekman play and was “beaming from ear to ear” Saturday night in War Memorial Stadium as the Razorbacks beat Mississippi State.
“Garrett was any parent or coach’s dream,” Estes said. “He was one of those special kids and had a passion for everything. He loved Catholic High, loves UA and wanted to be a Razorback forever.
“He got to live that dream.”
Prayers for the family.
LSU fans extend our condolences.
Wild-ass guessing on my part, but maybe a combination of low blood pressure and DVT? When I was in the army, I had to have two wisdom teeth extracted. Prior to the extraction, the nurse did a BP reading, and my BP was something like 90/50 from all the exercise I had been doing. So combine that with sitting long periods of time playing video games, and you have a recipe for DVT and a bad ending.
What’s DVT?
DVT = Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep venal thrombosis. Basically a bad blood clot, IIRC.
Could be. They flew home last night after the game. That did pop into my head when I heard.
Thanks!
See you Friday.
So sad. God bless his family, friends, and all those associated with the Razorback program.
Enlarged heart played part in death
Arkansas tight end Garrett Uekman, who collapsed in his dorm room and died later at Washington Medical Center in Fayetteville, is congratulated by fans at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock after an early season victory. An enlarged heart contributed to Uekman’s death.
By Matthew Harris
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Arkansas tight end Garrett Uekman died as a result of an enlarged heart and a progressive condition that causes an irregular heartbeat and restricts the organ’s ability to pump blood, Washington County Coroner Roger Morris said Tuesday.
http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2011/nov/23/enlarged-heart-played-part-death-20111123/?razorbacks
He could have gotten it from a virus, or it could be genetic. But I’d think if it were genetic it would have shown up on an EKG.
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