Cardiologist Explain Last Week’s Sudden Death On The Ice

Nearly a week after the sudden death of 14-year-old hockey player Patrick Schoonover, the community is learning how uncommon of an occurrence Patrick’s death was. Essentia Health Cardiologist Dr. Michael Thurmes says Patrick had some weakness in the wall of his aorta. He also had some pinching of a downstream vessel, causing a build up between the heart and the pinch. And the two combined to lead to the rupture of his heart’s vessel.
Dr. Thurmes says Patrick’s condition is a rare one and although hospital physicals caught most health problems it’s still tough to prevent all.
Local hockey coach and school counselors are reminding their athletes what happened to Patrick is a rare occurrence and shouldn’t prevent them from take the ice.
Fischer says it’s important for maturing students to talk with their family, friends, coaches and consolers to help process what happened last week with Patrick.