Athlete hospitalized after collapsing at Special Olympics

Send a card to: Dennis, Special Olympian, Wesley Medical Center Building 7 room 316

ABSOLUTELY agreed on the ambulance presence.Still incredulous that there was not one on site.However,I am unsure that one can "predict" a medical event's chances of happening again.All athletes have current physicals.....can one "predict" a broken ankle?

I actually don't think,in a public forum, it is appropriate to discuss the condition of an injured athlete without the consent of he or his family, or his team. I do feel that hearing perceptions of witnesses and helping staff present and involved can be very helpful in determining what can be done to minimize the chances that this will happen again. For example, we all agree that, in the future, having an ambulance on standby is just not optional.

grijd refers to the athletes who were already on the field,already staged for an event,being removed to the volunteer tent on the other side of the awards podium.While I find it a crying shame and quite unbelievable that an ambulance was not on site-really ??? Do we,as a community of athletes,coaches,and families REALLY need to quibble about " I was there,I saw what happened " ?!?!? REALLY ??? How about we just focus on our community,and the athlete,his coaches,his team,and his family ???

The issue in question happened on Sunday, and the majority of teams had been there since Friday, so having to stop to go the the bathroom thing doesn't even make sense. I was there, and coaches, volunteers, and the announcers were ALL encouraging athletes to drink water. I have been involved with my son in Special Olympics for over 10 years and have NEVER heard a coach or bus driver discourage their team from drinking water. Specifically, they made announcements saying everyone should be drinking ar least 8 oz every half hour, and supplied teams with water. And I completely concur with Jayhawk 83... there were many who were helping, and changed off during the CPR, just as trained. Assistance was given immediately by medics AND police both. Athletes were taken under the bleechers where it was shady and cool and were given lunch, not to a tent, so I'm not sure where grijd was sitting, but it was not somewhere with a clear view.

my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the athlete and his teammates.

@grijd...I was at the event as well and witnessed the incident. I think you have the facts slightly skewed. Those volunteer golf cart medics are the ones that actually rolled the guy over and began CPR. They are also the ones that had the AED which was used to shock the patient twice. The fact that one of them had to call 911 was because everyone standing around seemed to have lost thier minds and wasn't able to do it themselves. Without early CPR and early defibrilation the patient would have never had a chance. Just be careful about criticizing someone whithout knowing the whole story. Thanks.

I was there, at the edvent and was 100 feet away. Medics where slow to respond. there where kids in the stands. they removed the racers ( including my son in the next race) to a tent and gave water. there was no ablance on stand by. that goodness for a couple of volteers giving CPR and tried to treat for a sezure also the Police that RAN to help after they noticed. They where their giving out medals. The Medics that where there never got out of their cart and jut called 911 on their cell. our heart goes out to the athlete, and his family.

MANY of these athletes traveled pretty far for this event,and some were told NOT to load up on drinks because they didn't want alot of restroom stops! This should NEVER happen! it was 102 degree's outside! why are athletes expected to perform in heat like this? I pray for a healthy recovery...i don't care if a driver has to stop 300 times during a trip...PLEASE KEEP EVERYONE YOU LOVE HYDRATED IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS HEAT!

SHUT UP!! They did not say what hospital they them the person to!!! And if they did it was a MISTAKE!! I pray foe EVERYONE that was taking part in these events!!!!!!!!!!