A Florida high school football player has been remembered as an “outstanding athlete, beloved teammate and overall exceptional young man” after he died after collapsing on the field during a game.
According to a GoFundMe campaign launched this weekend, the Port St. Joe Chance Gainer, 18, passed away on Friday, September 6th. NBC News, citing Gulf District Superintendent of Schools Jim Norton, reported that Gainer died during an away game at Liberty County High School. Norton described the teenage athlete’s death as a “tragic loss” that left the community with “deep sadness”.
“Chance was quiet, but he exuded an amazing warmth and sincerity that drew people to him.” Norton said in a statement obtained by the paper, calling Gainer’s death “perhaps the most heartbreaking situation imaginable for the family and community.”
NBC affiliate WJHG reported that the teenager had no pulse when paramedics arrived at the game, before medical personnel eventually found him. Gainer was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Blountstown, Florida.
Image of a soccer ball on the field.
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Liberty County athletic director and assistant principal Tim Davis, who was at Friday’s game, said Northwest Florida Daily News that Gainer was playing linebacker when the play occurred on the opposite side of the field, before he “suddenly fell to the ground.”
“The coaches addressed him and after a few minutes they called 911. Once they got to the field, they took him to the ambulance behind the bench,” Davis said. “One of our school resource officers drove in an ambulance to Blountstown while the medics worked on him.”
According to ESPN, Gainer scored on a 70-yard touchdown earlier in the game before collapsing. Administrators learned of his death with four minutes left in the game, Davis said Northwest Florida Daily newsand decided to let the game end before notifying Gainer’s teammates. Davis called the scene “heartbreaking.”
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The Florida High School Athletic Association later shared a message with the local community on Facebook, writing that they express their “heartfelt condolences to the Chance Gainer family, the Port St. Joe community and everyone affected at this difficult time. You are in our thoughts, and we wish you strength and resilience.”
Gainer, who had a GPA greater than 4.0, recently visited Vanderbilt University, the principal told WJHG.
“Chance was not only a star athlete but also a beloved teammate,” GoFundMe organizer Evan Clark wrote of Gainer. “You might not hear him, but you could see his smile from across the room. The team, the school, the community and most importantly, the family are truly devastated by the loss of Chance.”
For the coming week at Port St. High School. Joe, the district announced a day off on Monday, with grief counselors and teachers on hand for students throughout the week; free day for students on Tuesday with an open lunch for the football team and those of neighboring schools; postponement of the football game on Friday; and a tentative celebration of life for Gainer next weekend.
The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $54,000 of its $60,000 goal, as of Sunday, September 8.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education