Young footballer’s tragic death remains a mystery

| 13/06/2012

graham.JPG(CNS): A promising young footballer died suddenly during practice on Tuesday evening in Grand Cayman. Gerome Graham, who was only 20 years old and had no known health condition, collapsed at the Haig Bodden football field in Bodden Town last night, where the local club trains, at around 7:40pm. Although his team mates attempted to revive Graham, the young man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town. Police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. His club colleagues, friends and relatives were said to be devastated by the young man's sudden and unexpected death.

In Cayman 27's news reports on Tuesday evening the CIFA General Secretary Bruce Blake spoke about the need to have training sessions for physios and basic CPR to get people certified at the clubs. He said CIFA needs to help the clubs address issues like fitness checks of all players.

See Cayman27 video here

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  1. anonymous says:

    So sad. My sympathy to this family, may his soul rest in peace.

    Could the mInister of Education and Health consult each other on the subject of

    physical checkups for these young players, is this a requirement and if not,

    how soon will it be implemented to save lives. In the US a physical is

    requred for students or anyone desiring to play or involved in  sports.

    Let us do our job.

    Any response from the mInister of Health?

    • Anonymous says:

      Sadly, this happens all of the time in the US.  While it is not common, there have been reports of star athletes, the epitome of health, collapsing and dying without any indication in autopsy reports.  While health checks should be mandatory for all of our young persons, anyway, I'm not certain that this would ensure the complete safety of any individual.

      My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of this young man. May he soul rest in peace.

    • anonymous says:

      May God help the poor ignorant soul/s giving thumbs down to this post, Thanks for revealing who you all are. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

      Just simply report the news of death, just because you're on the inside does not license you to abuse the system and disrespect the family of the bereaved by restraining thumbs up from people who you can not control, manipulate, and who do not tolerate your foolishness and your political bias.

      God be with the family of the precious young life.

  2. Anonymous says:

    My sincere condolences to the family of this young man.  I pray for comfort and strength for them in this sad and difficult time in their lives.  I have to say in agreement with the other poster that I have also noticed the lack of medical personnell at training camps and sports venues around Cayman. I recall a day when a young athlete jumper landed awkwardly and hurt her head and neck. I was in the stands watching the events and saw when she jumped.  When she landed she lay there for a long time before anyone even went over to check on her much less assist her.  I couldnt help but notice that there seemed to be no one around her who was qualified in any way to help her and so she lay there on the mat for at least 40 mins in the boling hot sun without anyone so much as trying to shade her until an ambulance eventually came.  I'm not sure when they were called but I do know that part of the delay in getting to the athlete was caused by a moron who parked in front of the access gate and inefficient security who should have ensured no one parked in front of the access gate.  I pray that the powers that be will be mindful of such occurrences and will put procedures and policies in place to make sure all of our atletes old and young local or visitors have not only awesome facilities to train and play on but also have medical expertise and equipment available at each venue whenever they are being used.  It is certainly too late for this young man but lets not see another fall before we take action to prevent such tragedy in the future.  I also hope that any car parked in front of any access gate specifically marked for emergency access is towed immediatley without question and the driver/owner fined and disqualifed from driving for at least one year.

  3. Anonymous says:

    How very sad! My condolences to his family, friends and team.

     

     

  4. Anonymous says:

    RIP JEROME AKA BIRD

     

  5. Anonymous says:

    I pray for God's peace and love over this family!!!

    • anonymous says:

      So sad. My sympathy to this family, may his soul rest in peace.May his family be comforted in this hour of bereavement.
      Could the Minister for Education and Health consult each other on the subject of
      physical checkups for any of these young  fitness or sports athletes in government and private schools?,

      Is routine physical checkups a comprehensive requirement, and if not,how soon will it be implemented and "regulated" to save lives?  Generally,  a  medical /physical is  requred for students or anyone desiring to play or involved in  sports.
      The Cayman Islands Government must do its part to save the lives of our young people; in regulating schools as well as private fitness and sports businesses and organizations.  Any response from the Minister of Health?

  6. Anonymous says:

    So sad, may god guide his family through this most difficult time.

  7. Concerned Citizen says:

    Sad news about this young man, but what I have observed is that majority of these sports activities has no one who is experienced in CPR.  and if they do they still do not utilize their knowledge.   My sympathy go out to the friends and family of this young man.

    Since 2003, will someone give a satistics of how many young men we have lost.  Just taken away so quickly from us, in one way or the other.

    • Anonymous says:

      CPR is rarely of any value, only contributing a minor amount of assistance in cases such as water submersion.  

      What is of more value is a defibrillator.   In many sporting venues in North America (such as school gyms), these have become very common.    They cost around $1,500 and literally can be a life saver (every commercial passenger jet carries at least one).  .   

      Having said this, if the patient suffers a catastrophic cardiac event such as a burst aorta, there is unfortunately little that can be done (unless the patient is literally on an operating table).   But the best investment is in a defibrillator.   Again, CPR is only of limited utility in such things as drowing events.  

      Its amazing how powerful yet delicate the circulatory system is.  Powerful in that your heart is moving every second of your life.   Delicate in that a compromise of a small part of the system for as little as 5-6 minutes can stop your body from functioning. 

    • Anonymous says:

      There’s always one know-all, isn’t there? Stop telling us about your “observations” and just mourn one young man’s tragic death. It’s really not about you.

  8. Anonymous says:

    My sincerest condolences to his family.

    Losing a child is a tragedy no one ever gets over.

    May God bless you all during this time of great suffering.