Goodbye my friend
Though I've kinda retired from airsoft (another story), went to a game this past Saturday to say hi to a bunch of old friends I hadn't seen in over a year.
Unfortunately, it would be the last time I would see one of them again. During the game, Steven Holtgrefe said he felt tired and was going to lay down. He later passed out... and never woke up. Steven was best man for Bill Randolph, one of our AXF members, and Bill rode with the ambulance that arrived to take Steven to an open field, from where he was airlifted. The paramedics said he had a small hope of survival before the chopper left, but from the time it took to discover him, start CPR, and get emergency crews there, we knew it was too late. Even if he'd been amongst friends when it happened, chances are the results would have been the same. While officially no cause of death has yet been given, we think it was related to a heart valve replacement he'd undergone 10 years ago (stemming from a bout of mono).
The game was, of course, canceled, and myself, Bill Randolph, Keith Nelson, John Lenhardt, Mike from AEX, and some other airsofters followed soon after the medics' departure. On the road we received word that our friend was gone.
We said goodbye to him in the trauma room of Antelope Valley Hospital. Even now its very difficult to think of that moment... my friend laying on that hospital gurney, not moving... cold. I still expect him to wake up at any moment. Things seem so unreal.
Steven was one of the finest players I ever met. Never complained, always helped out, very mellow yet eager to get in the game and help others enjoy the moment. He was there at my first airsoft game. He embodied everything a good airsoft player should be.
R.I.P. my friend, you will be terribly missed. ;_;
http://www.socalairsoft.com/steve.jpg
Unfortunately, it would be the last time I would see one of them again. During the game, Steven Holtgrefe said he felt tired and was going to lay down. He later passed out... and never woke up. Steven was best man for Bill Randolph, one of our AXF members, and Bill rode with the ambulance that arrived to take Steven to an open field, from where he was airlifted. The paramedics said he had a small hope of survival before the chopper left, but from the time it took to discover him, start CPR, and get emergency crews there, we knew it was too late. Even if he'd been amongst friends when it happened, chances are the results would have been the same. While officially no cause of death has yet been given, we think it was related to a heart valve replacement he'd undergone 10 years ago (stemming from a bout of mono).
The game was, of course, canceled, and myself, Bill Randolph, Keith Nelson, John Lenhardt, Mike from AEX, and some other airsofters followed soon after the medics' departure. On the road we received word that our friend was gone.
We said goodbye to him in the trauma room of Antelope Valley Hospital. Even now its very difficult to think of that moment... my friend laying on that hospital gurney, not moving... cold. I still expect him to wake up at any moment. Things seem so unreal.
Steven was one of the finest players I ever met. Never complained, always helped out, very mellow yet eager to get in the game and help others enjoy the moment. He was there at my first airsoft game. He embodied everything a good airsoft player should be.
R.I.P. my friend, you will be terribly missed. ;_;
http://www.socalairsoft.com/steve.jpg
