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Long Island high school football player Robert Bush taken off life support after collapse: report

New York Post
Story by Patrick Reilly

A Long Island high school football player who collapsed during summer workout drills has been taken off life support, according to his family.

Robert Bush, 17, of Selden, went into cardiac arrest after just four minutes on the field Monday evening at Newfield High School.

His coaches desperately tried to save the teen, performing CPR and shocking him with a defibrillator, before he was rushed to Stony Brook Hospital.

The Bush family said they took Robert off life support on Friday night so his organs could be donated, CBS New York reported.

“We’re at the beginning of the final stages of my brother,” Robert’s sibling, Steven Bush, told the outlet. “We haven’t said our goodbyes, but that’s what we are preparing to do, talk about organ donation.”

Robert Bush, a 17-year-old football player from Selden, Long Island, has been taken off life support after collapsing during conditioning drills at Newfield High School earlier this week.Gofundme

His teammates were able to visit him at the hospital.

The cause of the high schooler’s sudden collapse remains uncertain, however, family members indicated that Robert, who was adopted, may have had an unknown hereditary condition that affected his heart.

The teen had never shown any previous signs of having a heart condition, his family told Newsday.

Bush had joined the football team to improve his health and conditioning, Steven said. While he was not a naturally talented player, he worked hard at his goal to make the varsity squad.

Family members suggested that Robert may have had an unknown hereditary heart condition that led to his collapse.News 12 Long Island

His brother said the family would jokingly refer to him as “Rudy,” due to his short height, in reference to the iconic film.

“He was always trying to get better and better because he was never a tall guy,” his other brother, Chris, said.

Robert was adopted as a baby and was one of 10 siblings — from ages 16 to 56 — in the Bush family. The family had fostered over 300 children, according to Steven Bush.

Robert was one of ten siblings.Bush Family

His mother, Patricia Bush, died of cancer in 2017. His father is currently dealing with severe medical issues that have left the family to fend for themselves, Steven told Newsday.

The family told CBS they are now questioning why high school summer sports programs do not have the same safety requirements as practices and games during the regular season.

“As an athletic trainer myself, we’ve got to make sure we are advocating for medical professionals for these kids. Practice, conditioning, it doesn’t matter. Someone needs to be there. Could have made the difference,” said Joshua Bush, Robert’s cousin.

Long Island high school football player Robert Bush taken off life support after collapse: report
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