MMA Athlete Dies Suddenly at 21 Following High-Intensity Exercise
Jake Sendler, a 21-year-old MMA fighter, died after developing a condition called rhabdomyolysis which can be caused by intense workouts as well as trauma or substance abuse.
A young athlete has died at 21 after performing a high-intensity exercise.
Jake Sendler, a young MMA fighter in Melbourne, Australia, who was studying to become a physical fitness teacher, developed a condition called rhabdomyolysis which breaks down muscle tissue and releases a toxin into the bloodstream which can cause kidney failure. The condition, which can also cause problems with the heart and other organs, can develop as a result of trauma, substance abuse, or intense exercise. The symptoms include dark urine, exhaustion, and muscle pain.
Sendler was unaware he suffered from rhabdomyolysis until he was suddenly rushed to the hospital earlier this month. He was put into an induced coma, with doctors unsure they could save him. His family was advised to say their goodbyes. Sendler fought for nearly two weeks, through multiple surgeries, before he finally succumbed to the disease.
“When we got into the ICU, the doctor said when they opened him up again (in another emergency surgery) there was just too much tissue that had died and there was so much damage, there was nothing more they could do,” his mother, Sharon, told News.com.au. “I said to him, ‘it’s OK baby, you can rest now, you fought so hard’ and I kissed him on the forehead and he passed away. It was the worst moment of my life.”
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Sendler was known to lead a healthy lifestyle, exercising often and eating only organic foods. When he felt pain in his muscles, he assumed it was normal exercise-related soreness. After noticing his urine was the color of tea, Sendler chalked it up to dehydration and upped his water intake. He fell ill during an MMA match on March 3 in which he was cleared by medics to fight.
“He sold 60 tickets to family and friends to come watch him,” his mother said. “Right up until the end he put his hands up to show the refs he is not out, so he made it through the full three rounds and was helped to walk out of the ring.”
Sharon is now determined to alert other families to the reality of rhabdomyolysis so that no one else will “never ever go through pain we felt.” “It can happen to anyone,” she added. “Had we known about the early signs, Jake could potentially still be here.”
