A 17-year-old boy who collapsed and died from cardiac arrest during a rugby game in Colorado had a history of heart problems, the Loveland Connection reported Monday.
Matthew Hammerdorfer went into surgery three times to treat his condition, known as Tetralogy of Fallot, which caused his heart to enlarge and become overworked while posing the constant threat of striking fatally without warning.
The teenager collapsed Saturday afternoon in Timnath, Colo., after taking a hit in the chest and his death was confirmed after he was flown to the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colo.
But Larimer County deputy coroner Kari Jones said the collision did not trigger the keen athlete's death.
"I don't think it [the collision] was a contributing factor, it was just a coincidence," she said.
Despite knowledge of the daily threat posed by his condition, Hammerdorfer resolutely played rugby, soccer, basketball, baseball and football.
"He did what he wanted and nothing stopped him," friend Lucas Hoem said. "Nothing affected him."
Hammerdorfer's teammates paid tribute to their departed friend on a Facebook memorial page.
"I'm going to miss Matt. We are going to make sure to dedicate every game to you," said Kevin Nurzynski-Loth.
