A North Carolina family says a routine youth football practice turned deadly when 13-year-old Caden Sorrell collapsed and later died.
What happened on the field
Opposing Views reports that Sorrell had just begun Friday’s practice when he experienced a medical emergency. After completing a lap around the field, he went into cardiac arrest, according to his older sister, Vanessa Clark, as quoted by the outlet.
Sister’s account
Clark said she was shopping at Walmart when her mother called about the emergency, prompting her to rush to the field. She told Opposing Views that her brother had seemed completely healthy before practice.
Remembering Caden
Sorrell was a student at Northwest Guilford Middle School. He played football for the Northwest Guilford Vikings and wore No. 42. Off the field, he rooted for the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Clark.
Clark described her brother as intelligent, gentle, and caring, recalling a playful sibling wrestling match that ended in laughter. “He was an angel from heaven,” she said.
Aftermath and safety push
As the family prepares for services, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help with medical bills and funeral costs, according to the report.
A family friend hopes to see automated external defibrillators (AEDs) made easier to access at athletic events, the outlet reported. AEDs can deliver a shock in certain cardiac arrest emergencies and may help restore a normal heart rhythm.
Opposing Views published the account and listed ANF as a source.
