04/26/24
March 18, 2004
Cornell LAX player dies from injuries sustained from ball impact.
goddam, thanks for putting a name to the mystery : commotio cordis.
posted by garfield at 09:48 AM on March 18, 2004
I've heard of things like this happening before. Seems like more of a freak accident than anything, like the occasional soccer goalie that takes a hard hit on the goalpost while diving for a save and winds up snapping his neck or something. Doesn't mean it's not sad though.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:55 AM on March 18, 2004
Reminds me of a high school kid killed trading punches to the chest with friends on a dare. I'm surprised that the last sudden heart death in lacrosse didn't lead to better chest protectors. It's not like baseball, where you'd need to overcome resistance to the mere idea of chestgear on batters. Lacrosse players already wear them -- they just aren't long enough.
posted by rcade at 09:55 AM on March 18, 2004
exactly my sentiments, rcade. When I played, I used the fewest shoulder/chest pads my coach would allow, which didn't amount to much. But what kind of protection is needed from a tough rubber ball with a metal core?
posted by garfield at 10:38 AM on March 18, 2004
But what kind of protection is needed from a tough rubber ball with a metal core? Well, I remember once playing against a really dirty attackman who was clearly too big and too good to be playing against our JV squad. One of his teammates caught him with an underhand shot. Right where one would normally wear a cup.
posted by yerfatma at 11:45 AM on March 18, 2004
I also remember reading certain riot police try to induce this condition when firing rubber bullets. Kepps 'em in practice, I guess. Google doesn't seem to agree with me though.
posted by yerfatma at 11:48 AM on March 18, 2004
something similar to this happened in '99 to a UMASS player. probably had something to do with the location and timing of the hit.