{
  "id": 13710599,
  "title": "An Extreme Summer Workout Left This Hockey Standout on Life Support",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/an-extreme-summer-workout-left-this-hockey-standout-on-life-support",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-11T12:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/korey-stringer-matthew-mayich-heat-stroke-deaths-policies-climate-change-extreme-high-temperature-workouts/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 20, Matthew Mayich, a standout hockey player at Arizona State University, began his first official practice with his new team at Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The temperature was already in the mid-80s. He and his teammates performed various exercises, including push-ups, planks, and squats, under the supervision of guest trainer and former Green Beret Tim Ziesel. At around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Ziesel instructed the players to perform a medicine ball run. Mayich appeared to struggle and eventually collapsed, experiencing what his family's lawyer, Robert Carey, called exertional heat stroke. The condition worsened, and Mayich was taken to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Carey stated that the family's hope for a meaningful recovery is near a miracle. Mayich's parents expressed their desire for accountability and the truth. The workout lasted longer than initially reported, and the university did not follow its own heat policy guidelines. Mayich's death highlights the increasing risk of heat-related injuries as climate change leads to more frequent, intense, and prolonged extreme heat events. Despite progress in heat safety since the death of Korey Stringer in 1995, many organizations rely on vague recommendations and limited mandates, leaving athletes at risk.",
  "summary": "This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Matthew Mayich stepped onto the field of Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, at about 7 a.m. on August 20. It was the standout hockey player’s first official practice with his new team, and temperatures were already in the mid-80s. He and […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Matthew Mayich, ASU hockey player, placed on life support after heat stroke",
    "Practice started at 90°F, lasted longer than reported, heat policy violated",
    "Climate change increases risk of heat-related injuries for athletes"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}