St. George’s Collge Football Player, Dominic James, Collapses During Match & Dies

Dominic James, the captain of the St. George College football team, collapsed on the field only minutes after the start of its match with Excelsior High School on September 20, 2016. He was taken to University Hospital of the West Indies where he died less than an hour later. Neville Bell, the coach of the St. George team, said he had been concerned when he saw Dominic’s eyes after the fall and saw they were “very glazed.” The Excelsior team member who was nearest Dominic when he fell immediately signaled for assistance, and Keeble Williams, assistant referee, stopped the game right away. Dr. Ivor Alexander, the St. George team doctor, and the Excelsior team doctor both ran to help Dominic and attempted to revive him before he was put into his fathers car and rushed to the hospital. According to Dr. Alexander, Dominic was gasping for breathe and foaming at the mouth; the doctor said he was showing signs of having a seizure. The doctor said they asked for oxygen at that time but “couldn’t get any” so they place Dominic on his side but he was still having trouble breathing. After Dominic was taken off the field and to the hospital, the game resumed, but when news of Dominic’s death was delivered at half-time, the game was called off. Coach Bell said the doctors and assistant referee did all they could. He said Dominic was a great student athlete who came from Jamaica College two years ago and the fact that he became team captain showed his leadership abilities. “This one is tough,” Bell said. “It’s almost like I lost my son.” Dr. Alexander wants the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) to provide appropriate medical aid at games beyond oxygen. He said they need a basic resuscitation kit and an Ambu bag, since mourn-to-mouth resuscitation will not help. Oxygen alone won’t help, he said, even with CPR, since backup equipment is required after CPR for basic life support. Ian Forbes, Jamaica College team manager, expressed his condolences to Dominic’s family and said all of Jamaica College was saddened by Dominic’s passing. Jamaica’s Minster of Sports Olivia “Babsy” Grange also expressed her deep grief over his death.