The family of Ted Agu, a former Cal football defensive tackle, is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the school.
A press release from the Agu family’s lawyers, Panish Shea & Boyle, states (via ESPN.com), “Despite the symptoms which clearly could and should have been observed, UCB coaches and trainers failed to immediately come to Agu’s assistance. It was only after Agu struggled and encountered obvious difficulties for a significant period of time that intervention occurred and he was placed on a cart and taken back towards the stadium where he collapsed for the last time.”
Agu passed away in February after collapsing during a conditioning run. Agu was rushed to a nearby medical center and passed away at the hospital while receiving treatment. It was later determined Agu was the victim of a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The condition is known for excessive thickening of the heart muscle, making it difficult for blood to pump through the heart. It is usually undiagnosed due to a lack of symptoms and is generally more dangerous to athletes requiring increased blood flow.
When it comes to stories like this, it is difficult not to feel for the family. Whether there is a case here or not will be up to a judge to decide. Cal representatives have said everything that could have been done to assist and treat Agu was done, including taking him out of the run, transporting for medical assistance and administering CPR.