Thursday, March 28, 2024

13-year-old Vancouver Island softball player dies after contracting strep throat

Share

The death of a teenage softball player last week has resulted in an outpouring of grief from the Vancouver Island softball community.

Robin Carey was 13-years-old when she passed away suddenly and unexpectedly after suffering from invasive Group A streptococcal infection (i.e. strep throat).

A GoFundMe set up to support Carey’s parents has raised over $10,000 of its $20,000 goal in two days.

Dangerous Illness

Though the majority of cases of don’t lead to severe illness, invasive group A strep can enter the bloodstream, muscles, and joints, causing life-threatening infections.

Island Health has stated that anyone who was in close contact with Carey over the last seven days is eligible for preventative antibiotic treatment and can see a doctor for medication.

If close contact was more than seven days ago, preventative antibiotic treatment is not recommended and people should watch for symptoms.

If more than a week has passed without developing symptoms, falling ill from exposure is unlikely.

Tributes From Friends and Organizations

As the news of Carey’s passing has spread, many people have voiced their support on social media, including the Hampton Little League (below).

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Robin Carey on Friday, March 23rd, 2018….

Posted by Hampton Little League Baseball and Softball on Tuesday, March 27, 2018

The Victoria Devils Fastball Club also made an official statement on their website:

“It is with great sadness that the Victoria Devils Fastball Club announce the unexpected passing of a member of its 2004 Team,” the club wrote.

“Robin Carey, a member of the 2004 Devils since the team’s inception passed away suddenly on Friday, March 23, 2018.

“Robin was a great person, great teammate, and had a tremendous passion for the game of softball. The entire organization is shaken by this tragic occurrence and our thoughts and prayers go out to Robin’s family, friends, and teammates during this unimaginable time.”

VFC asked for everyone to respect the family’s privacy and said that further information on the VFC celebrating Robin will be communicated in due course.

“Our words cannot express the heaviness in our hearts for your loss,” they added.

mm
Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

Read more

Latest Stories