Coroner: Northwood football player died of heart defect

IRVINE - The sudden death of a Northwood High School student who collapsed on campus after a football practice was the result of a congenital heart defect, a coroner's report has determined.

Dylan Bradshaw, 15, was in the midst of a junior varsity practice May 28 when he complained of feeling ill, having what appeared to be an asthma attack. He reportedly moved to the edge of the field, sat on an electric flatbed cart and at some point collapsed.

A physician trainer attempted CPR after Bradshaw went into cardiac arrest. He was transported to Irvine Regional Hospital, and was pronounced dead an hour later.

Bradshaw's death shocked the Northwood community, with students and school officials left mourning a young man remembered as a quiet, well-liked student and a scrappy, dedicated athlete.

The school's athletic community came together after Bradshaw's death to support his mother, Christine, and her family. Teammates at a June candlelight vigil presented Christine Bradshaw with a team jersey with the No. 1 on it, meant to symbolize his importance to the football program. Hundreds also turned out for Bradshaw's funeral, held in early June at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in Santa Ana, where the blue and silver Timberwolves jersey hung behind his open casket.

Irvine police said the investigation into Bradshaw's death will likely end with the release of the coroner's report.

"Nobody ever suspected that there was ever anything wrong, that there was neglect or anything, but we were just waiting for that medical reason," Irvine police Lt. Rick Handfield said.

Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com