A high school football game in Florida ended in tragedy when an athlete collapsed during the game and later passed away.
The local community is deeply shocked and saddened by the event. Chance Gainer, an 18-year-old student and standout player from Port St. Joe High School, lost consciousness on the field while playing against Liberty County High School. Despite the quick response from medical staff, he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Gulf County School Superintendent Jim Norton said that when emergency responders first arrived, Gainer had no pulse. However, they were able to revive him before he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Unfortunately, he passed away after arriving at the clinic.
Liberty County Athletic Director Tim Davis, who was there at the time, shared more details about what happened after Gainer was taken away. “We got the news about an hour later that he had passed away. The game had about four minutes left in the fourth quarter, so we decided to finish it. This way, the Port St. Joe coaches could tell the players together,” he said.
Gainer’s death has deeply affected the Port St. Joe community. He was not only known for his impressive athletic skills but also for his kind and quiet nature. Norton described Gainer as an outstanding athlete and person, praising his “world-class speed” and even better personality.
The young athlete, who had a GPA above 4.0, had recently visited Vanderbilt University to explore college options. “This is the most heartbreaking situation,” said Superintendent Jim Norton on Saturday. He also asked everyone to keep Gainer’s parents and loved ones in their thoughts and prayers. On the same day, Port St. Joe High School opened its doors to allow the community to gather and mourn Gainer’s passing. Grief counselors were brought in to help students, staff, and the football team cope with the loss. The upcoming football game against Blountstown, scheduled for next Friday, has been postponed.
Many people had kind words about Gainer. Principal Sissy Godwin described him as “a very sweet young man” whose smile could light up any room. Football coach Tanner Jones called him “feisty” and noted his ability to “determine the outcome of games.” His friend Kolten Johnson remembered the moment he found out about Gainer’s death. He knew “something was wrong” when his mother started crying and told him the news after the game. Johnson said Gainer was “an amazing football player, an amazing friend, a great kid to be around.”
The news spread quickly on social media. The Florida High School Sports Athletic Association extended its condolences to Gainer’s family, friends, and the Port St. Joe community. One user wrote, “No mother should have to bury their child. I’m sending my deepest condolences and prayers to his family. Rest well, Chance Gainer.” Others also expressed their sadness and concerns. One person added, “It is heartbreaking. The safety of young athletes should be our primary concern in sports. The recent tragedies have shocked and saddened the entire community.”
To honor Gainer, the Gulf County School District has planned several events. A local pizza place donated pizzas for Monday’s lunch to give Gainer’s mother and aunts time to mourn. All schools in the district will be closed on Tuesday, and there will be a luncheon for athletes and coaches. Normal classes will resume on Wednesday. There is also a planned event called “Celebration of Life” on Saturday the 14th, though details are still being finalized. Our deepest condolences go to the Gainer family and the Port St. Joe community during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Chance Gainer.
PRAY FOR MELANIE GRIFFITH!
Melanie Griffith begs for prayers as her mother is evacuated from big cat sanctuary in path of ferocious LA wildfire that has gutted homes, destroyed 22,000 acres of land AND the set for Wipeout
Melanie Griffith asked for prayers after her mother was evacuated from a wildlife sanctuary because of raging wildfires in Los Angeles.
The actress wrote on Twitter: ‘Please say a prayer for all residents in the path of the #SandFire . My Moms place Shambala is being evacuated.’
Griffith’s 86-year-old mother, Tippi Hedren, opened the preserve in 1983 following on from her film Roar.
There are over 40 big cats – including lions, tigers, cougars, black and spotted leopards, servals, bobcats, and an Asian leopard cat – who are cared for at the ranch.
On Sunday evening, Griffith, 58, confirmed that her mom was safe and the beloved cats had been saved. She wrote: ‘Mom is safe! Shambala is safe. Now sending love and thanks to all the firefighters who saved her and the cats.’
They accept donations for The Roar Foundation, the organization that runs the center.
Sable Ranch – a filming set used in the A-Team, 24 and Supernatural and the site for the Wipeout set – has also been destroyed.
The blaze has grown ferocious new power two days after it broke out, sending so much smoke in the air that planes making drops on it had to be grounded.
Officials said it has run through the area ‘like a freight train’.
The latest figures released by the authorities say the blaze is at 20 percent containment and a total of 18 family homes have been gutted in the areas of Sand Canyon, Bear Divide and Little Tujunga.
On Saturday, authorities said the Sand Fire was at 20 per cent containment, but the U.S. Forest Service corrected that figure and said the fire remains at 10 per cent containment. Above firefighters battled the Sand Fire on Sunday
About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another blaze spanning 10,000 acres (16 square miles) north of the majestic Big Sur region.
Authorities say almost 1,700 firefighters who are being hindered by scorching temperatures of up to 112 degrees are battling the blaze in the mountains north of Los Angeles known as the Sand Fire.
On Sunday crews faced another day of hot weather, low humidity and high winds that could once again fan the fires’ explosive growth. Shifting winds sent smoke away from greater Los Angeles and into desert communities, where residents were warned about poor air quality.
Late Saturday evening, a man’s body was found outside a home on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. Detectives are working to determine whether he was killed by the blaze or another cause, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Rob Hahnlein said.
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