David Carle Talks About Athletes' Deaths


Following the deaths of two high school athletes to sudden cardiac arrest last week, a University of Denver student and assistant hockey coach David Carle says he too could have collapsed and died because of his heart condition.

Carle was just about to become a college hockey player at the University of Denver when he learned his heart disease wouldn't allow him to play.

Now, Carle is urging parents of young athletes to get them checked before heading on to the ice or field.

Carle attended the NHL draft combine in his senior year of high school.

It was there he learned the heart he put into the game was now taking him out of it. During intensive testing, NHL doctors learned Carle had a heart disease that put him at a high-risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

He had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).  More than likely, it was this condition that caused the deaths of the high school athletes last week.

Carle thinks parents of young athletes should get their child's heart checked before playing contact sports. Carle says he caught his condition in time.

"If you know what you have, you can alter your life, you can live a normal healthy life," Carle said.

Carle has an implantable cardiac device.

The American Heart Association says parents of young athletes should take extra precautions if there's a history of heart murmur or hypertension in the family. The symptoms to watch for include chest pain or discomfort during exercise and shortness of breath.

3 comments:

dggoddard said...

To think that Jesse Martin came within a millimeter of dying and who knows what could of happened to David Carle if he hadn't been selected to attend the NHL Combine.

Many important life lessons to be learned from those two young men.

Anonymous said...

"Denver University"

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this. I 110% agree, DG. I suppose just like any catatsrophic injury to anyone, in any walk of life - Jesse didn't plan or prepare for his injury. Dave didn't plan or prepare for his heart condition. But the important thing is that they are now able to move on and educate others and be an inspiration. 2 very special people indeed.