Teenager dies after colliding with another player in freak baseball game accident

A 16-year-old student has died two weeks after suffering a ‘traumatic brain injury’ when he collided with another player during a high school baseball game.

Cooper Gardner, from Lansing, Michigan, was knocked unconscious in a freak accident during a junior varsity baseball game on April 21. He suffered severe brain damage when he collided with an opposing player at second base.

Cooper was accidentally kneed in the head by an opposing player and was out cold for 40 minutes. He went on to spent six days in an intensive care unit before being moved to a regular hospital room and eventually being released altogether.

Tragically, the Bath High School junior died suddenly at home on Sunday, his family have announced.

The accident occurred during the game against St. Patrick Catholic School, as Cooper was attempting to cover second base as an opposing player attempted to steal the base, reports the Lansing State Journal.

When Cooper attempted to tag the opposition runner, the two players collided and the player fell on Cooper after kneeing him in the head accidentally.

The other player involved was not hurt while Cooper was knocked out for 40 minutes.

Speaking to WLIX days before Cooper’s death his dad, Kris, said: ‘I was really scared. He was out for over 40 minutes, and I really thought I lost him.’

An ambulance eventually arrived at the playing field and transported Cooper to the nearby Sparrow Hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with a traumatic brain injury and heart and lung complications.

He spent six days in the pediatric intensive care unit and was moved to a regular hospital room on April 28 as his condition appeared to improve.

Cooper was then released from hospital altogether and was set to need occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy to help him make a full recovery. 

But the teenager sadly died at home on Sunday morning, according to the GoFundMe account set up to help his family with hospital expenses. His cause of death remains unknown.

The fundraiser, which has raised more than $44,000 so far, said Cooper was ‘doing one of the things he loves most, playing baseball’ when the accident happened.

His former coach, Michael Collins, told the Lansing State Journal: ‘If you had a bad day, you could go to practice and see his smiling face and all is right in the world.

‘As smart as can be, had everything in front of him. Good student, humble kid…he was just too young.

‘It’s tough to put into words what Cooper meant to everyone. He’s just Coop… Coop was family to everybody.’

Matt Dodson, principal of Bath High School, released a statement paying tribute to Cooper.

In a statement to WLNS, he said: ‘Cooper Gardner embodied every admirable characteristic one could ever hope to instill in a young man.

‘He was kind, humble, intelligent, respectful, and honest. We love you Coop. Love and peace to the Gardner family.’ 

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