Marion Barber III Cause of Death Alarming: Here's What Exactly Happened to Ex-NFL Star
Marion Barber III's cause of death has been put under the spotlight following his tragic passing.
A month after Barber was found dead inside his apartment, officials ruled that the former Dallas Cowboys running back had died of heatstroke.
On Monday, Frisco police released a statement in which it quoted the results from the Collin County Medical Examiner's office. It revealed that Barber's death was an accident.
Per ESPN, The Associated Press tried to obtain more details on the circumstances of the athlete's death. However, the medical examiner's office did not respond.
Following the revelation, USA Today published an in-depth explanation of why heat stroke - especially among football players - is alarming. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is the most serious heat-related illness. It happens when a person can no longer the body temperature.
With that, the body's temperature immediately rises, causing it unable to cool down. Unfortunately, it can immediately cause permanent disability or even death.
For football players, their practices often start during the hottest season of the year. University of North Carolina's National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury released data revealing that 11 football players have died from heat stroke amid football-related activity in the past five years.
The figure ballooned the total to 68 over the last 25 years alone.
Aside from Barber, several renowned football players also died from heat stroke, including Korey Stringer, Chad Wiley, Jordan McNair, and Eraste Austin, to name a few.
"While treatment times may vary due to starting temperature, rapid cooling to 102 degrees within 30 minutes is imperative," Dr. Douglas J, Casa, PhD, professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute, noted.
Marion Barber III Found Dead
In June, the responders first found Barber dead in his home.
A police source revealed at that time that they responded to a welfare check at the apartment after someone called about a water leak coming out of his apartment.
As no one responded during the visit, they forced their way in but found the lifeless man instead.
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"Frisco Police responded to a welfare concern at an apartment believed to be leased by Marion Barber. Frisco Police along with the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating an unattended death at the location," police spokesperson Joshua Lovell said.
Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys also paid tribute to him soon after learning about Barber's death.
"We are heartbroken by the tragic death of Marion Barber III. Marion was an old-school, hard-nosed football player who ran with the will to win every down. He had a passion for the game and love for his coaches and teammates," it went on.
Before his death, Barber played seven years in the NFL.
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