Two Atlanta high school coaches are facing with the charges of taking a life after one of their players passed away from a heat stroke. This happened during basketball drills during practice. The coaches now are informed that they are not to push students during severe hot weather.
Imani Bell, an outstanding student and athlete wore the famous Jordan number 23. She loved basketball.
On August 13, 2019, the 16-year-old junior passed away during conditioning drills. Coaches at the school offered an outdoor team practice. That day it happened to be a day with a heat index of at least 101.
This is heartbreaking…How could this happen?" said her Dad, Eric Bell. He said that the emergency room doctors revived his daughter twice.
Her body was
so hot that it went right back into distress," Eric Bell said. "I was actually in the room, and you know, that's not a memory I'll ever forget."
Charges against the young lady’s two high school coaches, Larosa Maria Walker-Asekere and Dwight Broom Palmer, include second-degree taking of a life, cruelty to children and involuntary taking of a life.
According to the grand jury records, the defendants caused "excessive physical pain by conducting outdoor conditioning training for the athletes in dangerous heat,” said reporters.
Bell's father also coaches high school basketball. He recognizes a message in these charges to coaches everywhere. "Every child that you coach, treat them like your own," Eric Bell said.
Now, pushing athletes like this young lady beyond reason could put coaches behind bars.