authentic Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2139454 DENVER -- 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. “ We didn't see anything happen. I sat by my locker and prayed for him. ” — Marques Douglas, 49ers defensive lineman 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. 49ers official statement "Thomas Herrion, a first-year guard on the 49ers, collapsed in the locker room following the game. He was immediately treated by team physicians, the medical staff and paramedics. He was then transported to St. Anthony Central. "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. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Herrion family." The San Francisco Chronicle reported that television footage showed Herrion walking off the field after the 49ers' touchdown drive, with nothing apparently wrong. According to the paper, Herrion's face gave no sign of distress in the footage. "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 percent 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. The native of Fort Worth, Texas, started every game at left guard in the 2003 season for Utah and was a team captain, when current 49ers quarterback Alex Smith played his sophomore season at quarterback. Herrion had four siblings -- two brothers and two sisters. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsaddict Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 thoughts and prayers for his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sith lord Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Very sad. Thoughts and prayers to his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg28daman Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Thats a horrible story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballhenry Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 very sad. shocking really, thoughts and prayers too are with his family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsfan999 Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Thats terrible, my thoughts and prayers will be with his friends and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallsux Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 This is very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 wow. Nothing to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QBkilla56 Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 My god. Thats horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Very sad and shocking news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newarkredskinsfan Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 That is very sad news, thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spjunkies Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 I really don't know what to say... My prayers are with his family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugs' Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Very sad....I hope his family gets the support they need from the 49ers organization....I wonder if they will do an autopsy to find the cause of death. I am saddened but intriqued at the same time to why a 23 year old would drop dead..... :peace1: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_good_brotha Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 This is sad. I saw on ESPNNews that he collapsed in the locker room. I didn't know he died until a little while ago. My thoughts and pryers go out to his family and friends. May he rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APBT Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Ny thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riggins44 Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 My prayers are with his family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofer Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 Sad, terrible news. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends, and to the whole 49er's organization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidFan Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 That is insane....hopefully if this is from heat exhaustion or frustration the test that Minny is doing with the temperature pill if works can go league-wide and prevent such disasters in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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