Elijah Jordan Brown-Garcia turned 12 just two short months ago. He then died after collapsing on the field during his football practice on February 10. His family is still seeking answers as to what happened and why he might have died. News12 New Jersey, reporting on what happened, said:
A Newark family is trying to get answers after their 12-year-old son collapsed and died during football practice last week. They say that the boy did not have any prior known health issues. They say that if someone in charge of the football program had known CPR, then maybe the boy would still be alive.
Elijah Jordan Brown-Garcia had just turned 12 two months ago. His family says that it was a regular day for him. He went to school, and everything was fine. But they say it was when he went off to football practice that everything changed.
“He was so happy to be there. He didn’t know that it was going to be his last day,” says the boy’s mother, Raven Brown.
Elijah was at practice at the West Side Park football field on Friday when he collapsed. He was a member of the Essex County Predators – a team owned by Bloomfield-based Big 21. He went to practice with his 10-year-old brother.
Elijah’s mother, describing the incident, said that there was no contact or anything else that would seem responsible for causing his collapse and passing. In that coach’s words, “No contact. It was just drills running back and forth. He didn’t get hit. He was a healthy kid…I don’t know why Friday night was his day.”
His brother made much the same claim, saying “He didn’t get hit, like no contact or anything. He ran about 20 yards, said he was going to take a little break. I don’t think he took enough time.”
Elijah’s mother, commenting on his passing and how long it took for the ambulance to arrive, said: “I said, ‘What are they doing? What is anybody doing?’ And he said, ‘They are pouring water on him, and they are fanning him.’ And that’s when I got my kids together and I said, ‘I’m on my way.‘” She added “I beat the ambulance there. Like 30-40 minutes. It took them a long time.”
The coaches of the team were apparently not CPR certified and so were unable to keep Elijah alive until the ambulance arrived.
Elijah was an outgoing, loving young kid. He loved dancing and football and loved his family. He made sure everyone was comfortable with his infectious smile. He loved going to school and he loved his friends.
At a young tender age of 12, Elijah passed away playing football, doing what he loved. No amount is too small.
By: Will Tanner. Follow me on Twitter @Will_Tanner_1
Featured image credit: GoFundMe
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