University of Maryland moves in with family of football player who died of heat stroke

The University of Maryland, College Park and the state and attorney general’s office reached a $ 3.5 million settlement with the family of Jordan McNair, the 19-year-old footballer who died in June 2018 after suffering a stroke heat following a stoppage – seasonal team training.

The settlement is awaiting approval from the Maryland Board of Public Works, which is due to meet Jan. 27 to discuss the matter. The approval would mark the final step in the two-year settlement process for McNair’s parents, Martin McNair and Tonya Wilson.

“Marty and Tonya are relieved that this fight is over and to put this behind them as they continue to mourn Jordan’s death,” Hassan Murphy, a lawyer representing the parents, said in a press release. “They are committed to channeling their grief and loss into the work that remains to protect the lives of student-athletes around the world by educating them about the signs and risks of exercise heatstroke.”

McNair collapsed during team training in May 2018 and was hospitalized with heat stroke. He died a fortnight later, on June 13, 2018. A few months later, reports of a culture of intimidation and abuse under then head coach DJ Durkin and his team made surface, NBC Sports reported. Durkin was later fired after the university faced pressure from its professors, students and lawmakers. A previous independent investigation into McNair’s death found that medical staff in Maryland failed to properly identify and treat McNair’s symptoms, which contributed to his death.

In August 2018, university officials apologized to McNair’s family for the mistakes that led to the death of the promising young footballer, billed as a four-star rookie and ranked among the top 25 nationally for offensive linemen.

McNair’s family established the Jordan McNair Foundation soon after his death to raise awareness among youth, high school and college sports about heat-related illnesses. Martin McNair recently spoke about the use of “legislation in the mission of heat-related illness awareness and safety of our student athletes”.

“And we, as a cabinet, are committed to working with them and the Maryland legislature to reform this state’s tort laws so that no family is potentially limited by law to less than what the responsible party got on his way out the door, ”Murphy said.

At least 30 college football players died of heat stroke between 2000 and 2018, according to the American Council on Science and Health.