Grant Brace: Family shares heartbreaking video of wrestler, 20, begging for water before fatal heatstroke
LOUISVILLE, TENNESSEE: The family of Grant Brace, a 20-year-old student who died after he begged for water during a wrestling practice in 83 degrees heat, have released a video that showed his desperate attempt in searching for liquid as they agree to a $14 million settlement with the university. The Louisville native died on August 31, 2020, after he was refused water by his wrestling coaches at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Brace's parents- Kyle and Jacqueline Brace, released the heart-wrenching video of their son 'searching for a way to cool off' as he attempted to open a locked door after being refused water in 83-degree heat. About an hour the incident was recorded on a surveillance camera. The young wrestler was found collapsed nearby, not far from a shut-off water fountain.
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What did Brace's parents say?
"He was on all fours and he had dug his hands in the dirt and he had fistfuls of dirt", Brace's father told ABC News. His mother tearfully added, "It's so painful to think that he was alone." Last week the University of the Cumberlands announced that it had agreed to a settlement of $14 million over the death of junior Brace.
According to New York Times, James Moncus, the lawyer for Brace's parents and his sister, Kaylee Wagnon, said they were "relieved and very satisfied" to see that the university was held accountable in the civil court for the tragic loss of Brace's family. Moncus added that the amount paid sends a clear message about "the level of wrongdoing, not only by the coaches but the university itself".
Harrowing video shows a college wrestler appearing to search for water just moments before he collapsed and died. Grant Brace’s parents have settled with the school for $14 million after alleging two coaches denied him water during a “punishment practice.” @EmNewsDC has details. pic.twitter.com/amWS477jsE
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) March 20, 2023
What does the settlement include?
The settlement includes an agreement for the University of the Cumberlands to participate in a heat-illness training program and to help raise awareness of heat-related injuries, the university said Wednesday, March 15, in a statement.
According to the lawsuit, Brace was diagnosed with narcolepsy and ADHD and was prescribed Adderall which requires maintaining hydration.
The poor athlete lost his life during the wrestling team's first training day of the season. The team had to sprint multiple times up and down a steep hill after practice and Brace completed several before sitting down from exhaustion.
Coach threatened to kick Brace out of the wrestling team
Brace was threatened that he would be kicked out of the wrestling team by the then wrestling coach for which he was forced to run up the hill again and was later heard saying "I'm done. I can't do this anymore," the lawsuit said. While his condition continued to deteriorate, he begged for water but the heartless coaches didn't provide water or contact the trainer or emergency medical personnel, according to the lawsuit.
Brace tried to drink water from an outdoor fountain but unfortunately, that was not working. He also tried to get into a building but could not, and he collapsed. The coaches discovered him dead after 45 minutes with his hands clenched in the grass and dirt, according to the suit.
What did the university say?
In a statement, the university said it believed it could defend the claims asserted in the lawsuit but did not proceed further as the legal process would have been long and costly. "The University made the decision to settle the case now in a manner it hopes will respect the Brace family's tremendous loss," the statement said according to Daily Mail. It said the safety of students and athletes is a top priority and it "welcomes the opportunity to work with the Brace family's consultant to ensure it is providing the safest environment possible for student-athletes in all sports."
Police told ABC News, that the investigation related to Brace's death is still ongoing.