UCF Claims They Notified Plancher of Condition

In a statement released on their university athletics website , University of Central Florida Athletic Director Keith Tribble claims that the Knights administration relayed their medical information on sickle cell trait to 19-year-old Ereck Plancher ((pictured left from Orlando Sentinel and Plancher's Facebook profile)) as he continued to participate with the UCF football program.

The Medical Examiner's report on Plancher's death was released and revealed Plancher had sickle cell trait as a pre-existing condition. He died during an off-season workout on March 18.

From Kyle Hightower's article in the Orlando Sentinel ((thanks orlandosentinel.com)):

"The analysis conducted by the Wuesthoff Reference Laboratory in Melbourne found Plancher's collapsed and died because of the "sickling" of his cells in the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands and thymus.

The toxicology analysis as well as the internal examination of all his systems showed no defects or irregularities."

Points of view on the circumstances surrounding Plancher's collapse, death, and treatment that day at practice differed from players to coaching staff. The "mat drill" Plancher and others participated in was initially reported to be 10-and-a-half minutes long, but later it was revealed to be twice that length. Players came forward telling the media that coaches yelled at Plancher since he was running last in his drill. Head Coach George O'Leary said he did not see Plancher fall at any time, but did see him get up from the ground. Offensive Coordinator Tim Salem said he did not see Plancher have any difficulty. UCF performed an internal review of the events surrounding Plancher's death and, according to Tribble:

"...we have acted compassionately toward Ereck's family and with a thorough review of the facts."

The National Athletic Trainer's Association release on sickle cell trait can be found hyah

Ereck Plancher's Report of Autopsy from Orlando is hyah

The Orlando Sentinel's full coverage of Plancher's death is hyah

David Whitley's column on the new findings is hyah

The call to UCF Police and Orange County (FL) 911

UPDATE 19 JULY: A family member tells the Sentinel that no one was aware of Ereck Plancher's medical condition. Cousin Wood Faugue says the release of information in the autopsy was a surprise to everyone close...

"None of us had any idea, and I'm sure if they did inform him of that he would have told at least one of us."

Ereck Plancher's parents are currently visiting relatives in Haiti. They have not been notified of the Medical Examiner's report. Word is they also have retained counsel and are set to return to their Florida home in the town of Naples next week.

UCF Head Coach George O'Leary released a statement Friday:

"The health of our student-athletes is our top priority, and we provide superb medical care at UCF," he said. "I am confident our medical staff will evaluate this report in detail as part of our ongoing review."

The weekend update from Iliana Limon and Kyle Hightower at the Orlando Sentinel is hyah