A college football player died suddenly, not long after the first football practice of the season.
Abraham Reinhardt injured his leg within the first hour of practice, on the first day of spring football camp at Dixie State University in Utah, held on March 19.
“He was taken off the field and practice resumed,” the university’s associate athletic director Steve Johnson said via Fox 13. “After he was taken off the field he was treated with ice and remained on the sideline for the remainder of practice.”
All of Trailblazer Nation extend our deepest condolences, our thoughts and our prayers to the entire Reinhardt family,…
At 5 p.m., practice was over and Johnson says Reinhardt left with the team, Fox 13 reported.
“Then it was our understanding that, later on that evening, he was taken to the hospital,” Johnson added.
A few days later on March 22, Reinhardt died at the age of 23.
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A Gofundme was set up to assist Reinhardt’s family with “medical costs and any lost wages.”
The page says Reinhardt was discovered to have Hyponatremia, “which triggered severe muscle spasms throughout his body. Then led to several seizures causing immediate brain swelling.”
Hyponatremia is a condition where the level of sodium in the blood is too low and therefore the amount of water in and around the cells of the body cannot be properly regulated.
Symptoms may not appear in mild cases but become prominent when the level of sodium suddenly rises or drops.
In some cases, people engaged in sports or exercise can get hyponatremia from drinking too much water, thereby diluting the sodium in the body. Sports drinks can prevent this since they contain electrolytes with sodium.
Reports have not indicated how Reinhardt came down with hyponatremia.
According to a 2015 report from M.D. Alert, drinking too much water is the leading cause of hyponatremia in athletes. The report suggests that there is a greater danger in drinking too much water than too little.
Donations to the Gofundme page have reached almost $14,000 out of a $25,000 goal.
Reinhardt achieved first team all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors in his playing days, and led his team with 79 tackles.
The Gofundme page says Reinhardt was in his senior year of college, studying to become a radiology technician. Reinhardt and his family are from Hawaii.
“All of Trailblazer Nation extend our deepest condolences, our thoughts and our prayers to the entire Reinhardt family, to our Trailblazer Football program, and all of Abraham’s friends and loved ones. We are heartbroken over the loss of this incredible young man and he will be greatly missed,” Dixie State Athletics posted on Facebook.
Comments on the post talked about how Reinhardt’s death has affected the community.
“So Heartbroken over this. My son plays on the team and is having a hard time with the loss of Abraham..Prayers for his whole family! (sic)” wrote Charita Salih.
“Condolences and prayers to the Reinhardt family. Our son Kyle told us about this heartbreaking news. He is struggling with the loss of a teammate and friend. May all who knew and loved Ab find a way to heal their hearts,” wrote Crystal Murray.
