Sports
'Every Parent's Worst Nightmare:' IE Boy, 12, Dies At Soccer Practice, Fundraiser Underway
"Adriel loved soccer. It wasn't just something he played, it was something he truly loved. He showed up with heart, passion and a smile."
INLAND EMPIRE, CA — An Inland Empire family and soccer club is grieving the loss of a 12-year-old boy who collapsed during soccer practice last week and died of cardiac arrest, according to a family spokesperson.
On Feb. 26, Adriel Enriquez was at soccer practice with his Platinum IE soccer club team when he went into cardiac arrest and died, his uncle, Joshua Gutierrez, said in a fundraiser established for the family.
"There are no words that make sense when a child is taken too soon," his uncle stated in the fundraiser. The loss of Adriel was sudden and heartbreaking.
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"(Adriel) brought light, energy, and joy everywhere he went. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, and hearing him call me 'tio' truly warmed my heart," said Gutierrez.
Adriel loved soccer.
"It wasn’t just something he played, it was something he truly loved," his uncle shared. "He showed up with heart, with passion, and with a smile. Tragically, Adriel collapsed during soccer practice, went into cardiac arrest, and passed away. What started as a normal afternoon doing what he loved turned into every parent’s worst nightmare."
He is survived by his father, Ricky, his mother, Brenda, and his brothers, Axel and Arley.
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"They are now walking through a pain no family should ever have to endure," Gutierrez wrote.
The soccer club Adriel belonged to, Platinum IE, has helped with the fundraising efforts and held a vigil for the boy at the field on Monday night at the Soccer Complex at 3496 W. Little League Drive, where friends and fellow players gathered in his memory.
"We stand together to honor our teammate, our brother, our #23," they said. "His spirit, heart and legacy will forever be part of Platinum."
Funds raised will help support Adriel's family, allowing them "breathing room as they cover funeral expenses, time away from work, and focus on grieving, healing, and being there for Axel and Arley."
As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe has raised over $59,000.
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