Medical Student, 28, Dies of Cardiac Arrest After Collapsing During Basketball Game

Medical Student, 28, Tragically Passes Away from Cardiac Arrest After Collapsing During Basketball Game Brenan Cullimore’s cardiac arrest was caused by a rare genetic heart condition. Vanessa Etienne an Emerging Content Writer-Reporter for PEOPLE. Vanessa Etienne Vanessa Etienne Published on April 30, 2025 02:34PM EDT​ Brenan Cullimore tragically passed away on March 7 due to cardiac arrest after collapsing during a basketball game. The 28-year-old medical student was unknowingly suffering from a rare genetic heart condition known as Brugada syndrome. Brenan’s wife, Abby Cullimore, is now bravely sharing his heartbreaking story in a bid to raise awareness about this rare condition. “He suddenly was like, ‘I’m feeling dizzy,’ he laid down and all of a sudden he lost consciousness,” his wife Abby, 27, tearfully shared with Today. Brenan’s friends promptly called 911 and began performing CPR until medical help arrived and rushed him to the hospital. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Brenan’s heart could not be revived.

Cardiac arrest, as per the Mayo Clinic, is the sudden loss of heart function caused by an issue with the heart’s electrical system, resulting in the heart’s pumping action faltering and blood flow stopping throughout the body. At the hospital, doctors continued resuscitation efforts, and Brenan was placed on an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machine to support his failing heart and lungs. Tragically, by the following day, Brenan’s condition deteriorated, and tests indicated no signs of brain activity. With heavy hearts, his family made the difficult decision to remove life support. Brenan had only recently discovered from his parents that he carried the gene for Brugada syndrome. This rare hereditary heart condition disrupts the heart’s rhythm, causing a potentially life-threatening irregular heartbeat.

Abby expressed her frustration at the lack of information and education they received regarding the implications of Brugada syndrome. She believed that with proper guidance, Brenan would have adhered to medical advice. The devastating loss has left Abby shattered. Married in October 2023, the couple had dreams of a future together. “He was just doing so well [in medical school], and patients loved him because of his personality,” Abby recalled. Through her grief, Abby is determined to shed light on Brugada syndrome and advocate for CPR training and more defibrillators in sports facilities. This tragic loss has spurred her on to ensure Brenan’s memory lives on and to prevent similar heartbreak for others.