12-year-old boy dies after collapsing during football practice with no one seeming to know CPR
Anish Vij
Featured Image Credit: Family handout
A 12-year-old boy has died after collapsing during football practice.
No one, on or off the field, apparently knew CPR and witnesses say he was laying there for over 30 minutes before an ambulance arrived.
Elijah Jordan Brown Garcia was doing a light training session at the West Side Park field in New Jersey on Friday.
The boy played for the Essex County Predators youth football team with his younger brother Mekhi, 10.
Advert
"He didn’t get hit, like no contact or anything. He ran about 20 yards, said he was going to take a little break. I don't think he took enough time," Mekhi said.
Elijah suddenly collapsed and never got back up.
Although the Newark Police precinct was just a few hundred yards away, the 911 phone calls which were made by spectators could have been sent anywhere, reports ABC7NY.
"I have three other kids and I had to get them dressed and ready and I got there and the ambulance still wasn’t there, and I called when I got there. They were literally on their way," said mother Raven Brown.
"It's unbearable how much love I’m getting for my baby. He didn't deserve this, he was a good kid.
"He had so much further to go, he had so much more time, he was supposed to be here."
When the ambulance eventually got there, Elijah could not be revived.
The family are now calling for all youth sports coaches to be trained in CPR.
"The coach wasn’t there, and he told me none of us are CPR certified, but I’m gonna do my best to make sure that all of us become CPR certified," said Brown.
There is currently no law in the state of New Jersey that requires coaches or team staff to be qualified in CPR.
"You have adults that are supposed to be in charge of our kids and they don't have the bare minimum when it comes to CPR or being able to realize what is an emergency and what's not," said Sable Shelton, Elijah's aunt.
"We have this conversation about football all the time when it comes to them big, known players. But why we don’t have the bare minimum for the children, the kids — and my nephew had to witness it."
UNILAD has contacted the founders of the Essex County Predators youth football team for comment.
The family have set up a GoFundMe for Elijah's funeral, which has already surpassed its $10,000 goal and currently stands at $19,283, at the time of writing.
To donate, click on the following link Elijah's GoFundMe