A high school baseball player in Michigan has died suddenly at home two weeks after suffering a freak injury during a game when he collided with an opposing player at second base.
Cooper Gardner, 16, was knocked unconscious and suffered a traumatic brain injury during a junior varsity baseball game on April 21.
Gardner had spent six days in an intensive care unit before being moved to a regular hospital room and eventually being released altogether.
But he passed away suddenly at home on Sunday, his family have announced. No cause of death was revealed.
Gardner was a junior at Bath High School near Lansing in Michigan. The accident occurred during the game against St. Patrick Catholic School, as Gardner was attempting to cover second base as an opposing player attempted to steal the bag.
When Gardner attempted to tag the runner the two players collided and the opposing player fell on Gardner after accidentally kneeing him in the head.
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Cooper Gardner, 16, was knocked unconscious and suffered a traumatic brain injury during a junior varsity baseball game on April 21
Gardner had spent six days in an intensive care unit before being moved to a regular hospital room and eventually being released altogether
Gardner was unconscious for approximately 40 minutes following the accident as a nurse ran on to the field to aid him.
The other player involved, who hasn’t been named, was not hurt during the play.
‘I was really scared. He was out for over 40 minutes, and I really thought I lost him,’ Cooper’s dad, Kris, told WLIX days before Cooper’s tragic death.
A GoFundMe account started to raise money for hospital expenses referred to the play as a ‘freak accident.’
An ambulance eventually arrived and transported the player to the emergency room at Sparrow Hospital with a traumatic brain injury, as well as heart and lung complications.
Numerous scans and tests were conducted on Gardner’s brain to determine the extend of the damage.
After six days in the pediatric intensive care unit, Gardner was moved to a regular hospital room on April 28 and appeared to be on the mend, even being released from the hospital.
Gardner was set to need occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy to aid his recovery after his hospital release.
But he died at home on Sunday morning according to the GoFundMe account, with no immediate cause of death given, other than mentioning that he ‘unexpectedly passed away.’
The fundraiser said Gardner was ‘doing one of the things he loves most, playing baseball’ when the accident occurred.
His former coach was among those to express condolences following Gardner’s death.
‘If you had a bad day, you could go to practice and see his smiling face and all is right in the world,’ said junior varsity coach Michael Collins, according to the Lansing State Journal.
‘As smart as can be, had everything in front of him. Good student, humble kid…he was just too young,’ Gardner’s coach continued.
‘It’s tough to put into words what Cooper meant to everyone. He’s just Coop… Coop was family to everybody,’ Collins added.
The baseball team began selling T-shirts and wristbands to help raise money for medical expenses and other needs for Gardner’s family prior to his death.
‘#CoopStrong t-shirts will be available for purchase for $20 and #CoopStrong wristbands will be available for $5, or if you wish, you can make a donation to help out,’ read a Facebook post from Bath High School on April 26.
Prior to his passing, the baseball team was selling T-shirts to raise donations for the family
The post added that the donations were planned to be given to the Gardner family on Senior Night, which is May 20.
Matt Dodson, principal of Bath High School, released a statement about Gardner’s passing.
‘Cooper Gardner embodied every admirable characteristic one could ever hope to instill in a young man,’ said the statement, obtained by WLNS.
‘He was kind, humble, intelligent, respectful, and honest. We love you Coop. Love and peace to the Gardner family.’
The GoFundMe, which is now geared towards funeral expenses for the family, as raised over $40,000 as of Wednesday evening.
According to MLive.com, it’s the first baseball-related death since the the Michigan High School Athletic Association began keeping track in 1989.
Monday’s game involving Bath High School was canceled, but the team, along with family and friends, gathered at their field on Monday to honor Gardner.
‘We’re here to offer space and support with whatever they might need,’ Dodson said. ‘As you can expect, they’re absolutely devastated.’
The team is next scheduled to play again on Thursday, though it’s not yet clear if that game will move forward.
Additionally, counseling has been provided for those at the school grieving Gardner’s tragic passing.
