The family of a high school basketball player who died after suffering heatstroke at a practice in Georgia has been awarded $10 million by the school district.
Imani Bell was a junior on the Elite Scholars Academy basketball team when she collapsed while running the stairs outside the school. Bell was found to have died from heatstroke.
On a day when the temperature reached into the high 90s and the heat index was above 100 degrees, the school did not have equipment to reduce the risk of heat-related injuries. The risks of playing sports in the heat are monitored by the Georgia High School Association. The school did not follow the rules, according to Bell's family.
Bell's lawyer said that the family appreciated that the school acknowledged the value of her life.
"For the first time, a school district made a statement that a child's life is more important than a sport," said Miller. Every school should follow that.
Eric Bell, Imani's father and a girls' basketball coach at another Georgia high school, said he considered the settlement a "great gesture" that shows that the school district understands the promise was made for her. It shows a lot about her character.
According to sports ecology researchers such as Texas A&M's Jessica Murfree, the risk of heat-related illness in sports has gone up in the past 10 years. Several states have adopted policies to keep athletes safe.
Bell's case resulted in the highest settlement payment among recent high profile cases. The University of Maryland paid $3.5 million to the parents of Jordan McNair, who died after suffering heatstroke at a football practice. The LAUSD paid $9 million to settle claims related to the death of a football player.
Bell's death drew national attention after the two coaches who were present for the practice that led to her death were charged with felony murder. If someone dies while a felony is being committed, the accused can be charged with murder. The criminal case isn't closed.
Eric Bell said the family will use the money from the settlement to establish the Keep Imani Foundation. The foundation plans to create an engineering scholarship, help children who need glasses and try to provide cold tub for every high school athletic department in the state of Georgia in hopes of avoiding future heat related deaths.
The gym at the academy will be renamed in honor of Imani Bell. The gym is going to be renamed on Tuesday, according to a school employee. The Bell family will be at the ceremony.
He said it would be a bit sad. I would trade anything to have her here with me, but we want to keep her name going and this gives us an opportunity to do that.
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