Thomas Herrion, offensive lineman for 49ers dies after game

[BigSKINBauer]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...-herrion_x.htm


Niners lineman collapses, dies after preseason game
DENVER (AP) — San Francisco offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the locker room and died Sunday morning, shortly after the 49ers played the Denver Broncos in a preseason game. He was 23.
Herrion, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound guard, was on the field for San Francisco's 14-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a touchdown with 2 seconds left.

Players had finished listening to coach Mike Nolan address them in a postgame meeting when Herrion collapsed. Medics administered CPR on him and took him to an ambulance that rushed him to a nearby hospital.

About three hours later, 49ers spokesman Aaron Salkin confirmed that Herrion had been pronounced dead. The cause of death was not immediately known.

"This is a colossal tragedy for the 49ers and the entire NFL community," Salkin said. "We still do not know all the details. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Herrion family."

The death comes a little more than four years after offensive lineman Korey Stringer of the Minnesota Vikings died of heatstroke during a training camp practice on a day during which the heat index soared to 110.

Since Stringer's death, NFL teams have increased their efforts to teach players about hydration and how to manage the heat. They have been experimenting with sensors to measure players' core body temperatures, although those by themselves wouldn't be able to prevent a heat-related death.

Temperatures were in the mid-60s with 50% humidity Saturday night in Denver, although experts say heatstroke can occur even in cool conditions.

After the game, Nolan said he had no comments about San Francisco's 26-21 loss to the Broncos.

"There are more important things on our mind than the game," he said. "Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with Thomas Herrion."

Shortly after that statement, the Niners got dressed and boarded buses that took them to the Denver airport for their flight back to California. Salkin said coaches notified players of the tragedy at the airport.

"We didn't see anything happen," Niners defensive lineman Marques Douglas said. "I sat by my locker and prayed for him."

Herrion, a first-year player with the 49ers, played college ball at Utah and spent part of last season on the San Francisco and Dallas practice squads. He also played this season with the Hamburg Sea Dogs of NFL Europe.

Stringer's death was thought to be the first of its kind in the NFL. In 1979, St. Louis Cardinals tight end J.V. Cain died of a heart attack during training camp. Chuck Hughes, a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, died of a heart attack Oct. 24, 1972, during a game in Detroit against the Chicago Bears.

In April, Arena Football League player Al Lucas of the Los Angeles Avengers died of a spinal-cord injury he endured while making a tackle.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[BigSKINBauer]

http://49ers.com/newsroom/DisplayNews.asp?newsid=2554

Offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the locker room following the San Francisco 49ers game against the Denver Broncos. He was immediately treated by team physicians, medical staff and paramedics. He was then transported to St. Anthony’s Central in Denver. We received word a short time later that he passed away.

This is a colossal tragedy for the 49ers and the entire NFL community. We still do not know all of the details, however, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Herrion family.

[mooby]

that totally sucks. i feel bad for his family. my thoughts and prayers go out to him.

[Gmanc711]

Just awful. I'm willing to be right now that it has somthing to do with some unknown heart problem or somthing like that. Its ashame that these "unknown problems" take the lives of atheletes everywhere. This past April a young 10 year old boy in my community died of somthing like that, no one ever knew about it or saw it coming. Just horrible for the NFL as a whole. RIP.

[BigSKINBauer]

yeah just horrible, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends

[skinsfanthru&thru]

as someone who's dealt with multiple heat strokes, if that is what this is, I can tell u it's an extremely frightening expirience. My thoughts and best wishes go towards his family and friends.

[la73hof]

Originally Posted by BigSKINBauer

yeah just horrible, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends

I remember Herrion from last years camp. HHerrion was a strong run blocker but was polished enough to be kept on the active roster because of his pass blocking inexperience

Larry Allen took this guy under his wing and liked him

God rest his soul

[sportscurmudgeon]

At such a young age, you have to think that there was some kind of ongoing condition in his body that caused him to collapse and die. It was cool and relatively dry during the game so heat stroke is an unlikely cause. (Yes, I know that dehydration can occur in conditions less than a heat index of 105; but with temps in the low 60s, that is at least a "less likely" situation than it would be in camp "two-a-days" when the temps are in the 90s.)

RIP!

[BrudLee]

There is little doubt that fans of the 49ers, and the NFL at large, grieve for the Herrion family. God rest his soul.

[GoSkins!]

While this is bad for sports in general, I feel for the family of such a young, talented athlete. My prayers are with them.

[STPainmaker]

God bless him and his family. These kind of things are heartbreaking. He probably had some type of arrythmia, or cardiac event.