Basketball player collapses on court and passed away

“It is with incredible sadness that we report the loss of Red Bank Regional (RBR) senior and varsity basketball player, Albert Martin, who collapsed while playing basketball on Monday,’’ Marianne Klingman, community information officer for the borough’s regional school district, said in a prepared statement.

Martin was playing in a scrimmage this afternoon, which started around 3:45. According to witnesses Martin collapsed around 4:30pm on the court. He was taken to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, where he passed away a short time later.

“Our collective heart breaks for his family, friends and teammates and the entire RBR community. RBR’s counselors and crisis management team will be available for all students and staff who seek these services,’’ Klingman said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics estimate that 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. Some medical experts are calling for all high school students to be screened for heart trouble before they take to the court or field.

According to the NCAA, nearly a dozen college athletes die each year of sudden cardiac arrest. In fact, the NCAA has charted a new study to assess the feasibility of screening every Division I athlete for heart abnormalities that trigger the trauma. The findings according to ESPN should be released in 2013.

It is not clear if a defibrillator was on site at the gym in Red Bank, but many schools and athletic venues are not making sure that such lifesaving equipment is readily and easily available.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 295,000 deaths occur out of the hospital from sudden cardiac arrest per-year.