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by AprilSimpson from St. Louis

Last Post 48 days, 11 hours Ago


Family wants closure in YMCA death..
Jun 25, 2007 | 10:10 AM
Category: News
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A ST. PETERS FAMILY IS SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS AFTER THEIR LOVED ONE DIED WHILE RUNNING ON A TRACK IN THE ST. CHARLES COUNTY YMCA.

RICHARD GEVERS DIED FROM A HEART ATTACK WHILE RUNNING ON THE TRACK HERE AT THE ST. CHARLES COUNTY YMCA, BUT HIS FAMILY WANTS TO KNOW WHY HE WAS LEFT ALONE AND IF HIS DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED...IT WAS DECEMBER 29TH OF LAST YEAR.. ROBERT GEVERS WAS RUNNING ON THE TRACK ..WHEN HE HAD A HEART ATTACK.

65 YEAR OLD ROBERT GEVERS AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE YMCA SINCE 1985

HE WORKED OUT THERE AT LEAST TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.

THE YMCA CLOSES AT 9PM

WHEN ROBERT WASNT HOME AFTER 10 CAROLYN KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG..

CAROLYN GOT THE SHOCK OF HER LIFE WHEN SHE AND HER SON WENT TO THE YMCA AND WERE LET IN BY A FAMILY FRIEND WHO WORKED AT THE Y.

THIS IS WHAT CAROLYN SAID..

"I got up to the track opened the door and seen his body laying on the track

" We don't have any closure right now because at that point in time if they would have checked would be alive today that's my big concern

"I would like to see cameras put into every YMCA in places that are not monitored like the track."

ACCORDING TO CAROLYN...THE MAN WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE ST. CHARLES COUNTY YMCA THE NIGHT HER HUSBAND DIED..WAS FIRED..

IN THE POLICE REPORT TAKEN BY ST. PETERS POLICE..EMPLOYEES WRITTEN STATEMENTS SHOW THEY DIDN'T CHECK THE YMCA PRIOR TO LOCKING UP AT 9PM..

I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO TALK WITH ME OFFICIALS WITH THE YMCA..THEY NEVER RETURNED BY CALLS.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

23 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 23
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devas_yb_ecarg read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 10:17 AM

I think they should at least have the courtesy to talk her, hello..her husband die there..another thing I think it is a good idea about the monitors.
KittyKatz read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 10:35 AM

You cant expect them to have cameras everywhere. What if he had slipped and fallen in a shower? You want cameras in there?
jeanette read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 11:07 AM

I really feel sorry for the family finding him that way.But if it was a massive heart attack.He could of been standing by her at the kitchen sink and it happened.I don't think camera's would of help other then finding him faster and they wouldn't of had to find him like that on the field.It was his time and he was doing what he loved to do I guess running probably by himself as he had done in the past JMO..
Kim_Just_Kim read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 11:16 AM

Hmmm ... I would think it would be SOP (standard operating procedure) for whomever was closing up that night to check all areas of the Y before locking up and going home. Considering the person that was working that night was fired makes me think perhaps it is SOP.

If they're not talking to you April, it's probably they first off, don't want the media attention and may be just keeping quiet hoping a law suit doesn't emerge from this incident. I'm not sure if the Y would be responsible or the person working would then again I'm not an attorney. Tricky issue.

Of course camera survellience isn't possible everywhere, but putting one in an exercise area that doesn't have staff on-site all the time is not an unreasonable request.
mrmgrady read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 12:08 PM

What was the age of Richard? Did he have any medical history (high blood pressure, lung disease, smoking, diabetes, etc)? Was he under the care of a doctor?
The YMCA should have at least offered condolences to the wife on the death of Richard.
junonia read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 12:28 PM

I agree with Kim_Just_Kim. They are worried about a lawsuit. If the YMCA were to say they are sorry, that's like admitting that some one wasn't doing their job properly of checking things out before lights out. People sue for anything now a days.
Sketch
Jun 25, 2007 | 2:06 PM

Cameras in gyms are controversial at best. People don't like to be watched, recorded or photographed when they're working out, for many obvious reasons. It's the same reason most gyms ban cel phone cameras.

Puting cameras in to watch the patrons seems a little extreme. I would expect a better procedure would be to have the staff make several rounds around the facility during each day.

And even if cameras were in place. That does not guarantee that they will be constantly watched. Most surveillance cameras are not, they merely record. Which would not save any lives.

People can collapse running at the YMCA, on the sidewalk, through a park, on an outdoor track, anywhere. It is impossible to monitor every area all the time and prevent all tragedies.
mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 2:45 PM

It was tragic but everyone seems to be overlooking the fact that he died of natural causes running on the Track.... I walk and run the Track at the school by my house all the time.... If I was to fall dead would the Janitor be to blame because he did not think to check the Track before he went home... The man died doing what he loved.... No one is to blame.... They could learn from it but there is no reason to point a Finger at anybody.....
JillSTL read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 3:12 PM

The gym where I work out has cameras monitoring all the public areas.

This makes me feel better to know someone is watching to make sure I am OK ... plus to make sure no one gets out of hand.

Safety is an issue as well as health.


-- Jill --
The Web Chick
Cuteypops read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 3:36 PM

Amen Mr. Wild I agree.
FREEDOMFREE read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 3:40 PM

65 IS THE TIME YOU QUIT ,AND RETIRE .

THIS IS NOT LIVING .

AT THE HEALTH CLUB???

PLEASE PEOPLE , VOTE FOR ME ,

YOU SEE THE DEGREE , CLOSE DOWN IT FREE ,

PAYING TO HAVE , A HEART ATTACK FREE ,

ANOTHER DEGREE , LIKE INSURANCE FEE ,

NEW FREEDOM FREE , IT MUST BE ,

BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE , SUFFER THE FEE .
KittyKatz read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 3:46 PM

Even if they had cameras, and they had someone monitoring all those cameras, what then? They have to have someone on staff that knows CPR too? Or an EMT? Where does it end?

What if he had been working in the basement at home and had a heart attack? Who would be responsible to be watching him then?
jeckelka
Jun 25, 2007 | 4:40 PM

I think everyone is missing the point. How much time would it have taken to do a final walk through of the establishment....This should be a required thing to be done every night. It's easy to say well it happens, but would you really feel the same way if it was your loved one. This man was not a fly by night member. The workers knew him and knew his routine, not to say they probably knew it was his truck parked in the lot. Do we put too much responsibility on our workers or do we just let them do as they want. I would think the YMCA would feel some remorse in this situation, at least an apology..
LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 6:31 PM

I feel if the Y offers an apology then it opens them up for a lawsuit. And insofar as the cameras, I would bet that it is only going to hurt those that receive memberships at free or reduced rates . . . the money has to come from somewhere.

This was a tragic event and the company did what it needed to, which was to terminate an employee who obviously failed to follow procedures. I say the wife, as hard as it may be, need to just move on. Life can be cruel, but I don't think that anyone did anything to her husband intentionally.
babylove read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 8:24 PM

i think cameras on the running machines~for just such a horrible occasion would be a good idea.perhaps if someone had been watching the footage at that exact moment,the ambulance could have gotten there in time and saved him.and yes,i think places like gyms,etc that have people exerting themselves should be monitered for just such an emergency.seems perfectly logical to me.
Kim_Just_Kim read my blog view my photos
Jun 25, 2007 | 10:22 PM

I hear what you're saying Mr Wildflower, but I doubt you pay a membership fee to run on the school track you're talking about, but I'm sure Mr. Gevers paid to be a member of the YMCA. Hopefully, family members know where you've gone when you run on that track too.

As a matter of fact, when you start wanting to use the weight equipment at the Y, they want to do an "assessment" of you beforehand because they don't want you to over-exert yourself. They are aware of the potential liability and of the moral obligation they have to make sure members are using their equipment safely.

It's hard to see things clearly when dealing with the loss of human life. I agree there was no intent to harm this man. But I can understand the widow's turmoil. People survive heart attacks every day when there is speedy intervention, depending on the kind of heart attack it is. I'm living proof of that. I would think medical personnel would be able to tell the widow if he could have survived it or not if she had an autopsy performed.
Speedy62269 read my blog
Jun 26, 2007 | 5:47 AM

This is another case of not checking the bus after your shift or making sure everyone is out of the theatre. The gentleman died of natural causes and the liability of this was with him only.

Now, the YMCA needs to create a different gameplan on verifying all members are gone before locking the doors. It is not up to the establishment to keep track of any member rather let them "roam" on their own. This instance was unfortunate but upon my opinion (for future reference) no negligence existed nor can be proven.
valentine64214 read my blog view my photos
Jun 26, 2007 | 2:08 PM

I agree with you, Mr. Wildflower. The first symptom of heart problems is death.
JillSTL read my blog view my photos
Jun 26, 2007 | 4:18 PM

I would hope they would check the whole facility before locking the doors.

As I said, I like knowing there are cameras at my gym ...

... what would have happened if one person attacked another and seriously injured them? A video camera would not only (hopefully) notify staff there was a problem, it would record proof of what happened and who did it.
Sandy1973
Jun 28, 2007 | 12:14 AM

This is a very serious situation i would think,& the YMCA should be held 100% liable for leaving any member dead in their building.If I ever had to go find my husband dead in a public workout facility hours after they had already closed,I also would be furious & do anything I could to resolve the problem,also to say I would sue & anyone on this blog would do the same if it happened to them.I guess it'll just have to happen again to someone else before something is done,to bad thats always the way it goes.Next time anyone is on the YMCA track working out you should ask yourself,"If something happens to me,will anyone be here to help me?" because the answer just might be NO,just like what happened to this family.
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AprilSimpson

I am the Fox 2 Mid-Day anchor and morning live reporter..I get up very early(around 3am) and I have never drank coffee, so I run on pure adrenaline..Who am I kidding I am half-sleep most days..Anyway I am from the southern Arkansas(Go Hogs). My favorite pastime is fishing..

Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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