1 dead, 1 hospitalized after Michigan game
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One man died and another was transported to Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital in the aftermath of Saturday’s game against the University of Michigan, but the weekend overall was nothing out of the ordinary for a football weekend, police said.
The collapse of an 18-year-old U-M student minutes before the conclusion of the MSU vs. U-M game raised concerns among attendees who watched as he was taken from the stands on a body board. Despite rumors the student died, MSU police Sgt. Paul Kuchek said he survived the incident.
The student did not appear responsive to CPR and defibrillator paddles used by medics who rushed to the man’s seat in the corner area of the student section, witnesses said.
He was taken from the stadium on a body board after medics spent several minutes attempting to revive him, said human biology junior Maggie Parks, who saw the incident from her seat a few rows away.
“It appeared that he was in bad shape,” she said. “For all I know, he could’ve fallen and hit his head or had a heart condition. … For a long time they were doing chest compressions there and doing breathing for him there.”
Landscape junior Kory Lambarth, who was seated two sections away from the U-M student, said people seated in the area watched in horror.
“It was one of those things you can’t get out of your head,” he said. “His head was bouncing on the way down the stairs — he didn’t look alive. Everyone was just freaking out about it. People couldn’t pay attention to the game.”
Kuchek said although the student is alive, he did not know anything further about his condition. Kuchek was unsure of the reason for the collapse, as police ceased involvement when it became clear the situation strictly was a medical concern.
The collapse appeared to be health-related and the student was not pushed or shoved by anyone in the stands, Kuchek said.
Hours later, a 25-year-old Ortonville, Mich., man with no MSU affiliation died Saturday night after falling and hitting his head on Gunson Street, East Lansing police Lt. Tom Vanderwoude said.
The man had been drinking and the incident was alcohol-related, Vanderwoude said. No further details were available Sunday.
Despite the two major incidents, the rest of the weekend was nothing police didn’t expect, Parking and Code Enforcement officer Jeff Horn said. Horn said although police were busier than they would be on an average Saturday, the number of calls and arrests was not larger than it usually is after a typical home football game.
Commentary
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David
(10/04/09 11:40pm)Report
Football is just a game…life is precious. Prayers to the families of both young men irrespective of whom they were cheering for Saturday afternoon.
dub
(10/05/09 7:04am)Report
You guys (LSJ) are ridiculous. Totally, absolutely, and unequivocally one of the most irresponsible headlines I have EVER seen.
That headline is going to have the public, as it did me, thinking that something outrageous happened.(I’m not saying something horrible didn’t happen)
I went to MSU in the era of tear gas and riots, and for the most part those events were blown out of proportion by the media and the police.
Absolute filth, whoever came up with the title for this article should be ashamed of themselves.
Irresponsible and totally unprofessional.
Kaitlyn
(10/05/09 8:09am)Report
I agree with dub – the headline is a bit over-the-top and makes it sound as though these unfortunate incidents were a direct result of the game. While I’m sure many Wolverines left with broken hearts, they were not physically injured. However, I would like to remind dub that he/she is reading the State News and not the LSJ.
My heart and prayers go out the families of both these young men.
Sparty
(10/05/09 8:36am)Report
Agreed with all 3 above. Prayers for the families and loved ones. Terrible and totally irresponsible headline. Shame.
Mommy90
(10/05/09 9:03am)Report
Lets Be realistic here folks, the title of the article brings awareness to all fans, Michigan and Michigan state. Both my MSU students witnessed this tragic event and could not concentrate on the rest of the game. As much of a wolverine fan that I am, I have 2 students at MSU
they are there for education and hopefully the futre of the sate of Michigan. Any loss or injury at any sporting event is tragic. Perhaps the headline could have been a little more diplomatic, but these are someones children and family members, please pray for them and their families. I actually had a wolverine fan in front of me say “a least its a spartan they are doing recussitation on ….shame on you whoever you are, its fans like you who give Michigan a bad name.
MSU Fan
(10/05/09 9:13am)Report
The real news was “the number of calls and arrests was not larger than it usually is after a typical home football game.”
I guess that doesn’t sell newspapers and get people to watch the local news. Embarrassing for the State News and other media outlets who picked sensationalism over real journalism.
Steve
(10/05/09 9:42am)Report
dub – it’s actually The State News, not the LSJ. Check out your address bar at the top of your computer screen.
Mike
(10/05/09 9:47am)Report
Unless the headline includes death or destruction no one is going to read it. It’s sad what the media has come to and the direction it is headed.
thisgirl
(10/05/09 1:06pm)Report
i think the entire article is irresponsible, beginning with the first paragraph.
“One man died and another was transported to Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital in the aftermath of Saturday’s game against the University of Michigan, but the weekend overall was nothing out of the ordinary for a football weekend, police said.”
some dude died, but no big deal, it was pretty ordinary.
really?
Spartan
(10/05/09 1:21pm)Report
Very sad, my thoughts and prayers are with both families.
Alcohol related deaths are especially tragic because they are so preventable. MSU (and MANY other) students are so disillusioned on what is “normal” when it comes to drinking. So very sad.
Erin
(10/05/09 1:51pm)Report
These headline does not accurately represent the content of the article.
I hope the U of M Student is ok, and they discover the cause of the accident. That is indeed very frightening.
Joe
(10/05/09 2:07pm)Report
These two events have basically no relation except that they happened on the same day, yet they were lumped together as “in the aftermath of the UM game.” Bad story, bad headline.
Rex
(10/05/09 4:38pm)Report
Just to clear the air here, I have first-hand knowledge that the first student mentioned here had an undiagnosed heart condition. The incident was not alcohol related and he was not pushed or tripped by MSU students. He is in stable condition, under observation at Sparrow Hospital.
S
(10/05/09 6:54pm)Report
Interesting that there is so much trashing of the State News writing going on the comment boards, but yet those same commentators had to actually read the articles to make those comments. I think anonymous-ish comment boards have made some people think that rudeness and derogatory comments after writing are par for the course.
wknd
(10/05/09 7:11pm)Report
I am surprised that there has not been any coverage regarding the literal ‘hit and run’ of the pedestrian, which occurred on Saturday, on the corner block of Abbot/Grand River. As usual, Ricks had a huge line, providing many eye witnesses.