The Maine medical examiner’s office says an underlying heart problem led to the death of an 18-year-old University of Maine football player three weeks ago.Mark Belserene with the Maine medical examiner’s office says defensive back Darius Minor died of natural causes. Heart disease associated with high blood pressure can lead to weakening and rupturing of the aorta, the major vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Belserene says this type of heart disease is difficult to diagnose in a young, healthy person.
University officials say Minor, a first-year political science major from Locust Grove, Virginia, collapsed about 15 minutes into a light preseason workout. Training staff and first responders were unable to resuscitate him.
