Bronny James, Son of LeBron, Experiences Cardiac Arrest During Practice
Bronny James during the McDonalds All American Basketball Games on March 28, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
An 18-year-old individual received medical treatment at the scene and was subsequently taken to the hospital, as confirmed by a statement from a family representative. The spokesperson conveyed that Bronny James, who is the 6-foot-3 incoming freshman for the USC Trojans and ranked 20th on ESPN’s Top 100 2023 recruits, is no longer in the intensive care unit and is now in stable condition.
The family has requested privacy during this time, and any further updates will be provided in due course. LeBron James and Savannah, Bronny’s parents, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the USC medical and athletic staff for their exceptional efforts and commitment to ensuring the safety of their athletes.
Last summer, another incoming freshman basketball player at USC, Vincent Iwuchukwu, suffered a cardiac arrest during an informal team practice and spent several days recovering at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The university refrained from commenting further to respect the privacy of their students.
Cardiac arrest and sports
Cardiac arrest is a rare but serious condition caused by sudden electrical disruptions in the heart’s rhythm. Immediate treatment, such as CPR and defibrillation, is crucial to increase the chances of survival, as highlighted by the American Heart Association.
Instances of sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes are infrequent but not unheard of. Studies have shown that cardiovascular-related sudden deaths were the leading cause of death among NCAA student-athletes in certain periods. Notably, Hank Gathers, a prominent forward for Loyola Marymount University, tragically collapsed and died during a conference tournament game in 1990 due to cardiac issues.
In response to such incidents, the NCAA convened a task force that issued guidelines in 2016, recommending universities to establish and practice emergency action plans for sudden cardiac arrest.
Last year, USC’s medical staff had a similar experience with Vince Iwuchukwu, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a summer workout. Thanks to the prompt response of athletic trainers, he was revived through CPR and defibrillation, and he eventually returned to the basketball court after a six-month recovery period.
In January, an NFL player named Damar Hamlin experienced a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game and was hospitalized for over a week. He extended his support to Bronny James and his family, having gone through a similar ordeal.
Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was attributed to commotio cordis, which occurs when severe chest trauma disrupts the heart’s electrical activity, leading to dangerous fibrillations.
He has since been cleared to return to football. As this is an ongoing story, further updates will be provided as additional details emerge.