A 49-year-old man expressed shoulder discomfort before collapsing; despite valiant efforts, he couldn’t be revived.
Vernon Pickleball Mixed Doubles Tournament got cancelled.
A Kelowna man, at the age of 49 died during a Vernon Pickleball Association (VPA) one-day mixed doubles tournament on Saturday, May 11.
The man after completing a couple of matches, was warming up between 11 a.m. and noon when he informed his playing companion of shoulder soreness.
“He leaned on the fence, then collapsed,” said VPA tournament director Richard Chambers.
The match referee called for medical to attend immediately, on the other hand, a woman had already called 911.
Chambers said, “By the grace of God” A former intensive care unit nurse, who happened to be at a nearby court watching her husband play, promptly began attending to the man.
Richard Chambers feels so sad that the Vernon Pickleball Association has lost a family man and a wonderful competitor during a tournament on Saturday.
Richard also added that three firefighters were on time to rescue when called. But the man could not be safe!
Kody Umpherville’s friends and family are looking for support. His friend, Tom Elwei has launched a GoFundMe to help the family pay for a funeral and service to honor him, which is to end on May 31st.
“Kody passed away on May 11th playing pickleball, the game that he truly loved,” said Elwel in the GoFundMe, which has raised $6,472.
Instead of paying funds for the flowers, people asked to pay funds to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Vernon Pickleball Association quoted. “Instead of refunding those fees, we will donate them to the Umpherville family and contribute from club funds to raise the total to $7,000.”
