16-Year-Old Boy Dies After Suffering Injuries in Pickup Basketball Game

Noah Lear, a 16-year-old Ohio native who suffered injuries during a pickup basketball game in February, died early Wednesday. 

Jake Furr of the Telegraph-Forum (via USA Today High School Sports) reported that while playing with friends at the Calvary Baptist Church 18 days ago, Lear was struck in the head and neck area by a basketball support pole, backboard and rim when the support pole snapped after a dunk attempt.

The report noted the injuries suffered in the accident caused damage to the region of his brain that controls heartbeat and blood pressure. That caused his family to move him into hospice care.

A statement posted on the Battle of the Lear Facebook page early Wednesday confirmed the news of his death: "After fighting valiantly for 18 days, Noah has taken his last breath. He is no longer in pain."

The post went on to read: 

"

He has left his mark on so many people in this world in his short life. Since his accident he has brought his friends, his family, his community, and many others throughout our world together. His accident has touched so many. It has reminded us all that anything can happen in the blink of an eye. Noah spent his life trying to make others happy and standing up for what he felt to be right. He put 110 percent into being the best he could be.

"

The Telegraph-Forum report also provided comments from Bucyrus Secondary School principal Mark Burke about the heartbreaking loss: "This is an incredibly challenging time for our students and staff. The Bucyrus City School District is a family, and we will do whatever is necessary to help each student and staff member deal with losing a classmate, student and friend. Noah and his family are in our thoughts and prayers."

Superintendent Kevin Kimmel added: "The loss of life is never easy, and it's even more difficult when it's a child. As the father of three children, my heart goes out to Noah's family."

It's an unthinkable tragedy to see a teenager—doing what so many others around the world do on a daily basis—suffer such a devastating accident while having fun with his friends.

Yet the outpouring of support in the community and through social media since word of his injuries first began to spread shows the positive impact he made during his 16 years on Earth.