Health & Fitness

Detroit Teen Dies Week After Collapsing During HS Basketball Game

Woods' aunt made the decision to remove him from life support "after vital signs continued to be absent,"​ the school district said.

Cartier Woods, a senior at Northwestern High School, collapsed about three minutes into the game against Frederick Douglass Academy​, telling a coach he was dizzy before he fell to the floor, officials said.
Cartier Woods, a senior at Northwestern High School, collapsed about three minutes into the game against Frederick Douglass Academy​, telling a coach he was dizzy before he fell to the floor, officials said. (Gofundme)

DETROIT — A Detroit high school basketball player who collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during a game last week died at Henry Ford Hospital, the Detroit Public School District confirmed Tuesday.

Cartier Woods, a senior at Northwestern High School, collapsed about three minutes into the game against Frederick Douglass Academy, telling a coach he was dizzy before he fell to the floor, officials said.

The school district said CPR was administered immediately, and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where the 18-year-old was put on life support.

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Woods' aunt, his legal guardian, made the decision to remove him from life support "after vital signs continued to be absent," the district said.

"The DPSCD community is heartbroken by this sudden and untimely loss. We deeply thank everyone who has provided their prayers and well wishes," said Chrystal Wilson, assistant superintendent of communications for DPSCD.

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His cousin, Melonie Woods, created a GoFundMe account to help cover medical expenses associated with his care. As of Tuesday evening, more than $8,300 had been collected.

Melonie Woods wrote that her mother, Dwanda Woods, adopted Cartier when he was 3 days old "and helped him along the way to do what he loved to do play SPORTS."

He "wanted to become a famous football or basketball player we supported him and wanted him to become just what he wanted to be!" Melonie Woods wrote. "This is so sudden and so tragic to us!"

The school district said grief counseling has been made available to students and staff at the high schools who are struggling with his death.

Funeral arrangements will be made public once they're available, the district said.

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