AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2005 > October > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHawks’ Collier dies of apparent heart attack
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier died early Saturday morning of an apparent heart attack. He was 28.
Collier experienced trouble breathing at 2:30 a.m. Saturday and his wife performed CPR and called 911. He was taken to Northside Hospital in Forsyth County, where he was pronounced dead.
Collier did not have any diagnosed health problems, his father, Jeff, told the Associated Press. Jeff Collier said he received a phone call at 3:30 a.m. Saturday from Jason’s wife, Katie, who said he was having trouble breathing and quickly turned blue. “Total shock,â€? Jeff Collier said of his reaction. “You get a call and it’s your daughter-in-law crying saying she’s giving him CPR and trying to keep him going. I guess it took a while for the paramedics to get there. He had a slight pulse when they took him and he passed away in the ambulance while they took him to the hospital.â€? Hawks players were notified of Collier’s death at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning before a scheduled workout was cancelled.
Collier, who played at Georgia Tech, was the longest tenured Hawk player, joining the team for the 2003-04 season after spending three seasons in Houston.
He is survived by a wife and daughter.
Comments
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By Jesse
October 15, 2005 11:38 AM | Link to this
This is terrible, terrible news. My heart and prayers go out to Jason’s family and friends.
By larry w.
October 15, 2005 11:53 AM | Link to this
Heartfelt sympathy for the Collier Family.
By Only 28???
October 15, 2005 11:58 AM | Link to this
A heart attack at 28 years old?? Maybe he had the condition that Turiaf and Hoiberg had but never had it discovered. Very sad.
By Jman
October 15, 2005 12:00 PM | Link to this
That is so shocking and sad. Our prayers are with the family.
By Junie James
October 15, 2005 12:02 PM | Link to this
This is a terrible tragedy for the Hawks organization.
I attended a Hawks game at Phillips arena and saw Jason play against the Kings. He had a heart of a champion.
He will be greatly missed.
My thoughts and prayers are extended to his family and friends.
By Greg
October 15, 2005 12:02 PM | Link to this
What a tragic event….being from Springfield Ohio like myself Jason will be a great loss not just to those in his family but the lives he touched.
By Dave P.
October 15, 2005 12:06 PM | Link to this
Sincere condolences to the Collier family and the Hawks family from Boston. The memories of Reggie Lewis and Len Bias still haunt our minds…
By techaholic
October 15, 2005 12:13 PM | Link to this
I am very saddened to hear about Jason’s death! Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathy go out to his wife and family….RIP.
It’s difficult accepting the death of such a young man!
By Frank
October 15, 2005 12:13 PM | Link to this
umm well what to say what to say i mean this is scary becuase i woke up with chest pains a couple of weeks ago and i thank God everyday that i am alive but very very sad im sorry for the loss….And being from philly and just hearing about it is scary that he was 28 and i am 17…..once again very sorry
By James P
October 15, 2005 12:14 PM | Link to this
So sad to hear this shocking news. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jason’s family.
By sabrina
October 15, 2005 12:16 PM | Link to this
My prayers go out to jason’s family and friends. we have lost a great player but gained an angel we love you jason #40 forever!
By Katrina
October 15, 2005 12:19 PM | Link to this
I have only attended one hawks game but even if I had not attended one at all this is very terrible, My thoughts go out to his wife to lose her husband at such a young age. I suggest more random health checks are done for these athletes who work so hard daily adding strain to their bodies. May God bless the family.
By Tammy Hall
October 15, 2005 12:20 PM | Link to this
My sincere condolences go out to the Collier Family,this truly a tragedy.His presence will truly be missed .
By Vicky A
October 15, 2005 12:20 PM | Link to this
I pray for his family; this is very sad and shocking news.
By Timothy McLendon
October 15, 2005 12:23 PM | Link to this
I’m so sorry for the lost of this fine young man. Our prayers are with the Collier Family, friends and players with the Hawks and Georgia Tech players.
By Kevin
October 15, 2005 12:23 PM | Link to this
Condolences to the Collier family, the Hawks organization and all those who knew Jason.
This is a tragic loss of a young man who represented the Hawks well.
By friend
October 15, 2005 12:31 PM | Link to this
this is very sad news. condolences to the family.
By Bill G
October 15, 2005 01:44 PM | Link to this
Sudden death is all too common among basketball players. So young and full of life, then so sudden a loss. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
By Jason
October 15, 2005 01:45 PM | Link to this
…that’s terrible. My thoughts and prayers go to the family. God be with you.
By david
October 15, 2005 01:50 PM | Link to this
j j j jason collier will truly be missed. he always waved when i shouted his name at the games. a true class act
By Brooke
October 15, 2005 01:51 PM | Link to this
Prayers to this young man’s family and especially his wife and child. The Hawks organization has suffered a tragic loss.
By alex
October 15, 2005 01:58 PM | Link to this
this is really bad news to hear and he will be remembered by myself and the Hawks orginazation.Iv’e been a Hakws fan my whole life and my prayers are with the Collier family
By alex
October 15, 2005 02:00 PM | Link to this
this is bad to hear and I know that Collier will be remembered by myself and the Hawks.My thoughts and prayers go out to the Collier family
By Roger Parham
October 15, 2005 02:03 PM | Link to this
i remember jason as a team player for georgia tech. he played hard but was alway a gentleman. he will be missed for being a good person, not just a basketball player.
By Jill
October 15, 2005 02:06 PM | Link to this
I was shocked to hear of the news. As a Hawks fan, I will be thinking about Collier’s family and his teammates. I’m so sorry to hear about their loss.
By Ladi Soyomokun
October 15, 2005 02:11 PM | Link to this
How are the mighty falling… J.C, you will forever and ever be remembered by your fans for your relentless efforts to make the Atlanta Hawks a formidable and a prospect team. Your loss is irreparable to your family and to the State of Georgia. We all pray to the almighty that your soul rest in perfect peace! Have a wonderful and eternal sleep! J.C, you will never be duplicated.
By Joe - Katie's old neighbor
October 15, 2005 02:11 PM | Link to this
Katie, I can’t imagine your grief, but I know your memories of Jason, your daughter, and your strong family will carry you through this. My prayers are with you.
By Jermaine
October 15, 2005 02:12 PM | Link to this
Sad news. His family should be in our prayers.
By Kathy
October 15, 2005 02:16 PM | Link to this
This is such sad news. I was his academic advisor at Tech and he was a very kind and caring person. He was very excited when he received his diploma from Tech. I met his wife and Jason was so exploding with excitement when he told me they were going to have a baby.
My heart and prayers go out to Jason’s wife and daughter and the entire Collier family. Jason will be missed by many not only for his ability as a basketball player but his ability and demeaner as a caring person.
with sympathy that I write this message. Kathy
By John
October 15, 2005 02:18 PM | Link to this
One question: How is his death any more important, or deserving of such effusive sympathy, than the death of any other young man dying suddenly? (Of course, I say this realizing that such comments like this on a Web forum ain’t really worth a whole lot.)
— John
By DANIEL E. ALVIN
October 15, 2005 02:21 PM | Link to this
I AM VERY SADDEN ABOUT JASON’S DEATH, HE WAS SO YOUNG.
By Samuel
October 15, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this
WOW,
What a shock. I arrived at Woodward Academy this morning all set to watch the Hawks. I was informed of the TRAGIC NEWS”. My heart goes out to his family and the entire Hawks family. It definately puts things into perspective and makes you appreciate your “Gift of Life”. May Jason’s spirit live forever.
By Vicki
October 15, 2005 02:36 PM | Link to this
We are sadden to hear of the passing of such a wonderful professional role model. Our thought and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Jason and the Collier Family.
By Josh
October 15, 2005 02:41 PM | Link to this
To the poster who wondered why this athlete’s death is deemed “more important” than the death of any other young man: I don’t see anyone here suggesting that it is. (So, why the anger?) What I DO see is media attention, because he was a pro athelete, and as such a media figure. Such attention brings news of his passing to those who are reached by the media (read: all Americans, even you, quite obviously). Your uneasiness with attention being paid to the passing of a good man, a good athlete is, I suggest, unwarranted. Let those who had feelings about the man feel his loss. There’s nothing wrong with that.
By Dewey
October 15, 2005 02:54 PM | Link to this
SAD newz indeed… my condolences to the Collier family…
By Aaron B
October 15, 2005 06:36 PM | Link to this
Samuel, I was at Woodward Academy too this morning and that’s when I learned of the terrible news. It was so sad my fiancee and I were deeply saddened by his death. May God bless his family!
By Lamont
October 15, 2005 06:49 PM | Link to this
God bless collier and his family.
Rest in Peace great warrior.
By Shearl L. Edler
October 15, 2005 08:15 PM | Link to this
Jeff, my thoughts are with you and your family during this most stressful time. Even though we have lost touch since your days in my classes at Sidney High School, I have followed Jason’s career with interest and enthusiasm. He must have been very much like you, Jeff.
By Mike Madlinger
October 15, 2005 08:24 PM | Link to this
Jeff and Joyce, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
By Sara G
October 15, 2005 09:24 PM | Link to this
Jules, you and your family and in our thoughts in prayers.
By HB Ando
October 16, 2005 05:13 AM | Link to this
Thought I posted this on today’s comments, but somehow it ended up on yesterday’s. Just wanted to make sure that these sentiments were offered here, as well:
Jason Collier’s passing is a tragic reminder to fans that these are real people, with real families. It gives me pause to think about how easy it is to criticize the performance of these athletes, and to personalize those comments by addressing issues like “heart�.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends, as the fragility of life is once again highlighted by a families’ loss.
By ray
October 16, 2005 09:29 AM | Link to this
What a tragic loss. My sympathies and condolences to the Collier family, though we would never know each other. Hopefully the Hawks organization will be fully supportive and see that they get anything they are in need of. Life is indeed fragile and sometimes there are just no explanations for the unexpected and seemingly impossible. Rest in peace, Jason.
P.S. John, your comments, regardless of your intentions, are unwarranted and crude. Pray that you are not subject to such a tragedy, as it could befall any of us. Have you lost a spouse/significant other? Merely a rhetorical question.
Aaron B: congratulations on your fiancee/engagement, though I’m sure I’m late on that.
By David
October 16, 2005 12:46 PM | Link to this
The whole Collier family is in my thoughts today, as well as the Hawks family. Its hard to think they will be able to concentrate on practice today and a game tomorrow. Its a tragedy most for his little girl that won’t know such a fine man. A man John will never be.
By lewis
October 16, 2005 05:50 PM | Link to this
To a class act, JASON… THANK YOU…….
By AaronB
October 17, 2005 01:06 PM | Link to this
Thanks Ray. Yeah we’ve been engaged for around 6 months now. I wonder how this whole thing will affect the young guys on the team. Will it allow them to “rise up” like the comercial, or will it bury them while they morn their fallen comrade.
By ray
October 17, 2005 08:48 PM | Link to this
I believe they will rise. The season will be long and arduous, but they will make it, I believe.