All deaths are sad, however, it is supremely tragic when it is someone so young with so much life yet to live. It is with deep sadness that the family of an 18-year-old high school graduate from Amplus Academy in Las Vegas announced his death after suffering cardiac arrest in the school bathroom following gym class. This is a tragedy that no parent should ever have to live through.
18-Year-Old Student Dies of a Heart Attack After Gym Class
On January 3rd, 18-year-old Jordan Brister suffered a heart attack in the changeroom after gym class. Sadly, he died in the hospital just a few days later. The family is absolutely stricken with grief. Everyone who knew him knew how much ambition and potential he had. Jordan was a soon-to-be high school graduate who was looking forward to starting college soon. His untimely passing has left her family, friends, and teachers in shock. (1)
“He was witty and charming,” said his mother. “He wanted to join the military to become a pararescue jumper to save others. In the end, he saved others through the donation of his organs, so his dream was somewhat fulfilled. He was a wise, older brother who cared deeply for his brother and sister. Jordan was truly everything you could ask for and more. He had a heart of gold.” (2)
18-year-old Bristers cardiac arrest, a high school student at Amplus Academy in Las Vegas, died Sunday after suffering a medical emergency while in the school’s bathroom after gym class. The young man was immediately taken to Hills Hospital but unfortunately passed away shortly afterwards. In a statement released by the school, they expressed sorrow for his death and offered condolences to his family. The cause of death is still being investigated by medical professionals and it is unclear if any action could have prevented it. This tragedy has left the entire Amplus Academy community shaken and we are deeply saddened by this sudden loss of life.
They Acted As Quickly As They Could
The young high school student, who was also a talented tennis player, was tended to immediately by school staff. The medical staff of the academy responded quickly and attempted to provide necessary treatment with CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED), but were unable to save him. He was rushed away to hospital, where still the staff there were unable to save him. It is believed that he had some kind of underlying heart problem that caused this incident. To honor his memory, the academy has made a statement expressing their sympathies and offering counseling services to those affected by this tragedy.
“Words cannot express what the Brister family is going through and there will never be enough answers as to why this happened,” said a family friend. “He was an amazing kid who loved life to the fullest.”
What Is Sudden Cardiac Death?
According to Dr. Adam Kean of Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among high school athletes, though it is still extraordinarily rare. Sudden cardiac death is the most common type of heart attack and is caused by a sudden electrical malfunction in the heart muscle, leading to loss of consciousness and breathing. It can be caused by undetected heart disease, lung injury or structural abnormalities in the heart muscle. Unfortunately, many patients with these conditions don’t survive sudden death due to muscle abnormalities or other structural issues that cause disruption of normal functioning before medical intervention can occur. (3) This tragedy is a reminder that even with modern advances in medicine there are some conditions that remain difficult to detect until it’s too late for effective treatment or prevention of sudden death.
Sources
- “High School Senior Dies Following Cardiac Arrest at School, Which Family Says Happened After Gym Class.” People. Abigail Adams. January 12, 2023.
- “High school senior dies after suffering heart attack at school, officials say.” WSAZ. FOX5 Staff and Andrew McMunn. January 10, 2023.
- “High school senior dies of cardiac arrest after being found unresponsive in bathroom after gym class – NBC 7 San Diego.” Local Today. Irene Garcia. January 11, 2023.