College wrestler Grant Brace dies after coach DENIED him water for poor performance
According to a new report, a college wrestler in Kentucky died of heatstroke after his coaches denied his urgent demands for water during practice due to his poor performance. WKRC-TV reported on Thursday that Grant Brace, 20, urged his team to get some water on the first day of wrestling conditioning at the University of the Cumberlands on Aug. 31, 2020. He told his teammates, “Guys, I need water. Get me some water.”
Witnesses told police that Brace's increasingly desperate pleas were rejected even as he began speaking gibberish, jerking, and claiming he couldn't see. Brace was discovered holding the grass on the ground two hours after practice. Medical officials told WKRC-TV that he died of exertional heat stroke, which was perfectly avoidable. According to the ongoing investigation, the Williamsburg Police Department allegedly interviewed more than 40 members of the wrestling team to describe the circumstances that led to the wrestler's death. Coaches instructed the players to ‘throw their water bottles on the fence and not touch them’ as the squad shifted their afternoon training outdoors from the gym at 3 p.m., according to police.
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The crew was given the challenge of sprinting up ‘Punishment Hill,’ a 200-foot hill with a 35-percent elevation, according to the station. The workouts were imposed as a result of a teammate's failure to reach their fundraising targets. Coaches reportedly urged exhausted Brace to ‘leave the hill and clean out his locker’ after he took a break after failing to keep up, according to teammates. Brace did go back to the locker room, but soon returned and stated his desire to prove himself, according to the authorities.
Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird allegedly said to WKRC-TV on Thursday, June 2, “Some witnesses describe a lot of verbal abuse by the coaches and even teammates as Grant continued to attempt sprints up the hill. Witnesses describe a short team meeting on the hill after the sprints when Grant was holding on to a small tree limb, swaying back and forth, saying, ‘I can’t stand.’” Brace is said to have laid down on a gym mat after the session and pleaded for water.
A coach interfered when a teammate began wrapping ice in a towel to chill Brace down, noting Brace's poor sprinting performance, according to the report. “At one point witnesses state Grant opened a cooler full of ice that was provided by the trainer and began to immerse himself in the ice and began splashing ice on his body,” Bird told WKRC-TV. Witnesses claim his physical state started to deteriorate as he asked the team for a drink, to the point that his eyes twitched.
According to the investigation, Brace, who had narcolepsy and was taking Adderall and was supposed to have unlimited access to water, told witnesses he couldn't see, started speaking gibberish, and tackled a teammate to the ground before fleeing the gym. According to surveillance footage, he then dashed to a nearby building and attempted to enter a closed door.“ In the video, Grant appeared to be in a panic or what I would describe as fight or flight,” Bird reportedly said. Nearly two hours later he was found on all fours next to what appeared to be vomit, according to the station. Brace's family is said to have filed a police report as well as a wrongful death lawsuit against the institution, alleging that the coaches failed to protect Brace's health and safety. According to the station, police are still investigating the tragic occurrence.