The Canadian football community is in mourning after one Winnipeg high school program experienced every parent and coach’s worst nightmare.
Darius ‘Dee’ Hartshorne, a lineman for the Sisler High School Spartans, passed away on Wednesday night due to complications from a serious neck injury suffered during a game two weeks ago, according to multiple media outlets. He turned 17 just five days ago, while in the hospital.
The Grade 12 student suffered the injury during a fluke play on the opening kickoff of Sisler’s game against the Tec Voc Hornets on October 17. While in the hospital, he was placed in an induced coma due to a high fever that was causing damage to his liver and kidneys, as well as swelling of the brain. Though he was taken off sedation this weekend, Hartshorne did not wake up.
“Our hearts are heavy today, but there is comfort in knowing that Dee is no longer suffering,” Hartshorne’s guardian, Stephanie Ciaralli, posted on Facebook early Thursday.
“After heartfelt visits and final goodbyes from family and friends, he took his last peaceful breath early this morning.”
The Winnipeg School Division has said that grief support will be made available to students and staff at Sisler, which is the second-largest high school in the province.
“Our thoughts are with Darius’s family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time,” the Winnipeg High School Football League said in a statement, adding that they are working to ensure proper support is given to both teams involved.
A moment of silence was held for Hartshorne in the Manitoba Provincial Legislature on Thursday, with both Premier Wab Kinew and opposition leader Obby Khan, a former CFL Player, offering their condolences.
The Sisler Spartans ended their season last week with a loss in the quarterfinals. The team wore decals with Hartshorne’s number 57 on their helmets and prominently displayed his jersey. Head coach Sean Esselmont told CBC News last week that Hartshorne was “one of the most genuine and wonderful young men I’ve had the pleasure of coaching in all of my time here.”
3DownNation offers its sincere condolences to all of Hartshorne’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the broader Manitoba football community, during this time. A GoFundMe set up to assist the family can be found here, and has raised over $53,000 at the time of publishing.
