Brighton student's death raises questions about sports risks

Posted at: 02/07/2012 11:10 PM | Updated at: 02/08/2012 11:52 AM
By: Lynette Adams | WHEC.com

The death of a club lacrosse player is raising questions about the risks involved in team sports, and parents are thinking about it and talking about it tonight.

Parents say not only do sports keep kids busy and out of trouble, they teach valuable lessons about hard work, sportsmanship and teamwork- and some say that's worth the risks of playing sports.

As families came in and out of the Total Sports Experience in Gates tonight, it was anything but business as usual.

One Rochester dad says he was thinking about the sports injury that sent a Brighton boy to the hospital, and may have caused his death this morning. "After I heard about it happening, I immediately looked at my son's lacrosse equipment and I wondered is it okay... so we're probably going to go out this weekend and look at some more equipment," says Michael Whitfield.

Tyler Kopp played for the Pittsford Flyers, a club lacrosse team. A lacrosse ball hit him in the chest last Thursday, sending him to the hospital. When the EMTs arrive, Gates Volunteer Ambulance Chief Randy Campbell says Kopp didn't have a pulse.

Campbell says Kopp was resuscitated and taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. He says sports injuries are common, and his ambulance corp visits TSE regularly throughout the year... but he says this time, it was different.

While some parents are thinking about the inherent dangers of sports, others say if you don't play sports, you can't avoid risk. But when something happens, it does have an impact on other athletes.

We don't know yet exactly what caused Tyler's death. The medical examiner will determine that. We're told Tyler's team played tonight and after the game, had a party in celebration of Tyler's life.

Earlier today, Tyler's dad issued an emotional statement saying "Tyler Kopp's body died, but his spirit lives on with his family and friends."

Services for Tyler

Calling hours will be held for Tyler on Thursday from 4:00-9:00p.m. at Anthony Funeral Chapels on Monroe Avenue.  A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday at Third Presbyterian Church on Meigs Street.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news, visit our website www.whec.com 

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