12-year-old New Jersey boy dies during no-contact football practice

A 12-year-old New Jersey boy collapsed and died throughout a no-contact soccer follow — and his household has blasted the league as “neglectful” as a result of not one of the coaches knew CPR.

Elijah Jordan Brown-Garcia, a sixth-grade scholar at KIPP Rise Academy, was working towards with the Essex County Predators final Friday when he dropped to the bottom and have become unresponsive, his household informed Information 12.

“No contact. It was simply drills working backwards and forwards. He didn’t get hit,” his mom, Raven Brown, informed the outlet.

“He was a wholesome child…I don’t know why Friday evening was his day.”

Elijah’s 10-year-old brother, who was additionally on the follow, known as their mom to inform her that the coaches — none of whom had been CPR-certified — had been making an attempt to revive the younger participant.

“He mentioned, ‘They’re pouring water on him, and they’re fanning him.’ And that’s once I obtained my children collectively and I mentioned, ‘I’m on my approach,’” says Brown.

Brown known as an ambulance as she rushed to the sector, and coaches additionally known as twice, however Brown made it to her son earlier than emergency personnel.

She mentioned it took 30-40 minutes for the ambulance to reach. Elijah was rushed to the hospital, the place he died.

The subsequent day, Elijah’s coach known as Forehead to apologize.

“‘Sorry, none of us are CPR-certified,’” the coach allegedly informed the grieving mom.

New Jersey state regulation requires at the least one individual to be CPR-certified at state college occasions and to have a defibrillator on standby.

“They’re neglectful. You possibly can’t run a group like that,” Brown says.

Brown and her household are contemplating taking authorized motion in opposition to the group that runs the soccer league, she mentioned. The group acknowledged Elijah’s passing, however didn’t present a remark to Information 12 due to an ongoing investigation.

Officers are nonetheless wanting into Elijah’s reason for demise.

His mom mentioned Elijah had by no means had any prior well being points and had gone to high school earlier within the day with out issues.

Taking part in on the soccer group was his favourite factor to do, his mom mentioned.

“He was so glad to be there. He didn’t know that it was going to be his final day,” Brown mentioned.

“I miss his face. I miss him dancing…I simply miss him. I miss all the pieces about him,” Brown says.