Track and field athlete (†23) dies overnight: this is the sad reason
California (USA) - She was a promising talent in US athletics and had just successfully completed her Master's degree. But last week Shelby Daniele (23) was snatched from life in the middle of the night.
It is now clear what caused the young athlete's death. Her best friend's father revealed the cause of death in a Facebook post.
Brian Brandenburg wrote on International Daughters' Day: "In honor of Daughters' Day, I'm shouting from the rooftop. [...] Shelby Daniele passed away last night from a brain aneurysm. It's heartbreaking. Today is Eva's 3rd day of classes and training," writes the father of Shelby's friend Eva.
The deceased was the reason Eva had started studying at Cal Poly, specializing in athletics. "Hug your kids whenever you can and tell them you love them every day," the father of two daughters added movingly.
Shelby died on the night of September 25, which her former university, California Polytechnic State, announced three days later.
Shelby Daniele became an aunt just a year ago
"Shelby was an exceptional student on the Cal Poly track and field team for five years. She was team captain and holds the school record, but most importantly, she was an incredible teammate and leader," the university wrote.
A brain aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. If the aneurysm bursts, there is an immediate danger to life due to the resulting cerebral hemorrhage. Aneurysms can be congenital or develop in the course of a person's life.
If a person is aware of a hereditary predisposition, a computer tomography of the brain can provide information as to whether they themselves suffer from an aneurysm. Then it can be operated on.
For Shelby's family, her sudden death was a huge shock. "My worst nightmare has [...] come true. My sister, my best friend, has left this earth to be with God. Too soon and too fast, and I will never understand why, but she is now where she is supposed to be," her sister Jessica wrote on Instagram under a picture of their wedding. Jessica only gave birth to a son around a year ago.
On October 12, family and friends will be able to say goodbye to Shelby as she lies in state, with her funeral service taking place on October 14. Two difficult, sad events for all those in whose lives Shelby "was the light", as her sister writes.