The Autopsy results of Hank Gathers showed he died of a diseased and scarred heart muscle, which is also known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
On December 9, 1989, he collapsed during the came due to having an abnormal heartbeat, and he was suggested to take a beta blocker, Inderal.
Gathers felt like the medication was causing his game to play, and the prescription was reduced one last time from 80 to 40 mg with the promise to visit the doctor every week.
But unfortunately, he ignored the call and did not visit his cardiologist for a couple of weeks. Still, after some time, he had almost 2 hours of talk with his cardiologist, and it was gathered that he was not taking does during his game days.
Gathers had a conversation with the doctor on March 2, and he collapsed on March 4 in the first half of the semifinal game against the Portland Pilots.
But he tried to get up and told the athletic trainers, “I don’t want to lay down!” But shortly after that, he stopped breathing and was sent to a nearby hospital.
Due to his condition, the game was suspended for the next night by the WCC commissioner.
Later, the hospital announced that the player died at 6:55 pm, as per Wikipedia. It was heartbreaking to hear the news; he passed away very soon at 23.
