A tight-knit Inland Empire soccer community is grieving after 12-year-old Adriel Enriquez collapsed during a practice in San Bernardino and later died, according to his family and members of his club. The young player, who wore jersey No. 23 for Platinum IE, was surrounded by teammates and coaches as the club and community quickly organized a vigil and memorial. An online fundraiser is helping his family cover funeral costs.
Platinum IE said in a statement that Adriel "died while doing what he loved most, being on the field with his team," according to NBC Los Angeles. The outlet reported that Adriel joined the club in May 2024 and had already become a familiar presence on its youth teams.
An online fundraiser organized by Joshua Gutierrez had raised $39,648 from more than 600 donors to help cover funeral and living expenses for the family, according to GoFundMe. The fundraiser page says Adriel collapsed at practice, went into cardiac arrest, and is survived by his parents, Ricky and Brenda, and his brothers, Axel and Arley.
Sudden cardiac arrest in youth sports
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes, and research shows many of those emergencies happen during practice rather than games. A study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that more than two‑thirds of sudden deaths in organized youth sports were cardiac-related and occurred during practice, highlighting the need for rapid response and preparedness.
Medical groups stress that immediate CPR and quick access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) are the most important survival factors, and national organizations encourage clubs and schools to keep AEDs on site and train staff in CPR, according to the American Heart Association. Those measures can dramatically improve a victim’s chance of surviving when every minute matters.
Platinum IE’s website lists its private training complex at 3496 West Little League Drive in San Bernardino, and posts along with fundraiser updates show the club and broader community have rallied around the Enriquez family. Organizers and teammates have asked for privacy while arrangements are made, and friends and parents have been leaving tributes online as the community mourns the loss of the young player.
