Smith Falls football player dies from track & field injury

A 17-year-old Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute has died of injuries suffered earlier this week during high jump practice at the school. The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) issued a statement regarding the death of Josiah Grant, a Grade 12 student at the school, who died Wednesday afternoon at Kingston General Hospital (KGH).

Grant suffered undisclosed injuries after missing the safety landing mat during high jump practice at the school on Tuesday. He was attended to by supervising teachers and his father was called. Grant was taken to hospital in Smiths Falls, but transferred to KGH, where he lapsed into a coma. Grant was a sports enthusiast who was on the Smith Falls District football team last fall.

Doctors at the Smiths Falls hospital assessed Josiah and said he had a concussion, but no neural damage. Josiah was then put in an ambulance to Kingston after doctors recommended that Josiah be transferred there.

Josiah’s condition worsened through the evening and continued to deteriorate overnight. When he was taken into an operating room, the doctors told his father, Gary Grant, that his son likely wouldn’t survive.

“This is a tragedy and we have our critical response team on site at Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute to provide support to students and staff,” UCDSB associate director of education Ian Carswell said in a board release. “The team will remain on site as long as required to provide those supports, which include grief counselling. Our thoughts and prayers are with Josian’s family at this very difficult time.”