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The University of Maryland has been found culpable in the death of 19-year old Jordan McNair after the completion of an independent investigation into the circumstances leading to McNair’s death. The findings were released on Friday.
The report states training staff did not follow proper procedures in attending to McNair after he fell ill. Inadequate cooling devices were used in place of cold water immersion or cold whirlpools. In addition, there appeared to be a failure to recognize the severity of the situation.
Dr. Rod Walters, a former college athletic trainer and sports medicine consultant, headed the investigation that was launched following McNair’s death. On Friday, Walters saidĀ “there was a failure to identify symptoms and aggressively treat it.”
Dr. Walters says it took Maryland 34 minutes to remove Jordan McNair from the field and 1 hour 7 minutes to call 911.
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) September 21, 2018
The report also states that head coach D.J. Durkin was present at the time McNair collapsed. Durkin’s role in the events following is unclear. He has since been placed on administrative leave stemming from a report — which was released shortly after McNair’s death — of a “toxic culture” within the football program.
McNair collapsed during a team workout and ultimately was hospitalized on May 29. He later died June 13. His family has hired an attorney shortly afterwards citing that McNair died of a heat stroke. Earlier this month, they filed for the right to sue the school over his death.
