Shocking and Tragic Deaths of Sportsman (Part 5)
This is a continuation of the previous articles, discussing shocking and tragic deaths in the world of sports.
Ken Caminiti was a third baseman for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves. Throughout his MLB career, and even before, Caminiti struggled with substance abuse. He checked himself into rehabilitation in 2000 after admitting
to have a problem with alcohol. In 2002, Caminiti did a story for Sports Illustrated, in which he admitted to using steroids starting in 1996, when he was selected as the MLB MVP. He also had a problem with cocaine, causing him to be sentenced to
probation for possession. He then violated his probation twice, once a mere five days before he died. On October 10, 2005 Caminiti died of what was first reported as a heart attack, at Lincoln Memorial Hospital in The Bronx. After an autopsy was performed,
it was revealed that he died from a drug overdose. He was 41 years old.
This is one of the more respectable deaths in the world of sports. Pat Tillman was a NFL defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals and shocked fans when he decided to forego his promising NFL career after 9/11 to join the United States Military. His brother
Kevin also gave up the chance to play professional baseball to join the army. In 2003, they were both deployed to Iraq, and afterwards, to Afghanistan. In April of 2004, Tillman was killed by friendly fire. His death was initially covered up as being killed
"in the line of devastating enemy fire," which earned him the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals. The truth was revealed weeks after his memorial service, even though the reports of his actual cause of death came just two days after he died, and four days
before his service. He was 24 years old at the time of death.
Dan Snyder, a Canadian professional ice hockey player, died on September 29, 2003, after his teammate’s Ferrari 360 Modena lost control and skidded into a wall. Dany Heatley, Snyder’s teammate who was driving the car, was driving at about 75 to 80 mph (120
to 128 km/h) in a 35 mph (58 km/h) zone. The car was split in half due to the great impact, and both Snyder and Heatley flew out of the car. Snyder was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery for a depressed skull fracture, and then went into a coma.
Six days later, on October 5, Snyder went into septic shock and died. Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide and was sentenced to three years probation, community service, and a $25,000 fine. He was not sentenced to the usual 15 years in prison because
Snyder’s parents forgave Heatley and they didn’t want him to be sent to prison. He was ordered, as part of his community service, to give 150 speeches about the dangers of driving recklessly. Snyder was the rookie of the year in 1994 and the captain of the
Owen Sound Platers. He was 25 years old when he died.
Marc-Vicien Foe was a midfielder for the Cameroon international football team. In the 72nd minute of the semi-final of the FIFA Confederations Cup, Foe collapsed. He was in the center circle, with no other players around him. Medics rushed out
to the field to try and resuscitate him, and he was alive upon leaving the field, but died at the stadium’s medical center. A second autopsy reported that Foe died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that increases the risk of death during physical
activity. He was 28 years old.
Other sportsmen whose deaths came as a shock to the world will be discussed in the next article.
Tags: