(NEW YORK) — Asphyxiation has been ruled out as the cause of death for the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, officials with the Costa Rican National Police told ABC News.
Authorities determined Miller Gardner didn’t die from asphyxiation because his respiratory tract was clear, police said.
This comes one day after a Costa Rican government official had said Miller Gardner may have died from asphyxiation due to “food intoxication.”
More tests are being done to determine his cause of death, the Costa Rican National Police said Tuesday. It could take up to three months to complete the autopsy due to the significant demand in the country because of its high murder rate, police added.
Authorities said they do not believe his death to be suspicious at this point in the investigation.
Miller Gardner died in his sleep Friday morning while the family was on vacation in Costa Rica, according to the family and the State Department.
The Gardner family was staying at the exclusive Arenas Del Mar Resort in Manuel Antonio.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our hearts go out to the family,” a spokesperson for the resort said in a statement. “The factors that led to this tragic incident are unknown, and we are fully cooperating with authorities as they investigate.”
Police from the town of Quepos are leading the investigation and will be questioning the hotel employees on Tuesday, authorities said.
Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica Gardner, said their youngest child died “after falling ill along with several other family members.”
“We have so many questions and so few answers at this point,” the Gardners said on Sunday in a statement released by the Yankees.
“Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile,” Brett and Jessica Gardner said in the statement. “He lived life to the fullest every single day.”
Brett Gardner spent his entire 14-season MLB career with the Yankees and retired after the 2021 season. He was named an American League All-Star in 2015 and won a Golden Glove Award in 2016. He was also on the team that won the World Series in 2009.
“Our hearts are heavy, and the Yankees family is filled with grief,” the Yankees said in a statement. “It wasn’t just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years — so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.”
“Our love for the Gardner family is unconditional and absolute, and we will offer our enduring support,” the team said.
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Canucks 4, Devils 3 Blue Jackets 4, Islanders 3 Wild 0, Stars 3 Red Wings 5, Utah Hockey Club 1
Women’s College Basketball Illinois 48, Texas 65 Mississippi State 59, USC 96 Michigan State 49, NC State 83 South Dakota 57, UConn 91 Iowa 62, Oklahoma 96 Florida State 71, LSU 101 West Virginia 47, North Carolina 58 Alabama 108, Maryland 111
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Flyers 4, Blackhawks 7 Sabres 5, Jets 3 Penguins 3, Panthers 4 Predators 1, Blues 4 Lightning 2, Golden Knights 4 Hurricanes 5, Ducks 2 Bruins 2, Kings 7
Men’s College Basketball UConn 75, Florida 77 Baylor 66, Duke 89 Saint Mary’s 66, Alabama 80 New Mexico 63, Michigan State 71 Illinois 75, Kentucky 84 Ole Miss 91, Iowa State 78 Colorado State 71, Maryland 72 Oregon 83, Arizona 87
Women’s College Basketball Indiana 53, South Carolina 64 Richmond 67, UCLA 84 Oregon 53, Duke 59 Louisville 70, TCU 85 Michigan 55, Notre Dame 76 Kansas State 80, Kentucky 79 Ole Miss 69, Baylor 63 Tennessee 82, Ohio State 67
(NEW YORK) — A University of Florida basketball player whose height makes him a Guinness World Record holder needed just his height to cut the net in a post-game celebration Sunday after the Gators won the SEC Championship.
Olivier Rioux sidestepped a ladder set up for players to climb to reach the net and simply reached up with his arm in a moment that was caught on camera and has gone viral on social media.
The video, shared online by the SEC Network, shows Rioux not even bothering to rise up on his tiptoes to reach the net, as fans, Gator cheerleaders and his teammates cheer him on.
Standing 7 feet, 9 inches tall, Rioux holds the Guinness World Record for tallest male teenager.
The freshman center grew up in Terrebonne, Quebec, according to his Florida player profile, but competed in high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
He comes from a tall family, with a mom who is 6 feet, 2 inches; a dad who is 6 feet, 8 inches; and a brother who is 6 feet, 9 inches, according to his Guinness World Record profile.
Rioux, who started playing basketball at age 5, was 6 feet tall by the age of 8 and 7 feet tall before entering seventh grade.
Rioux, who goes by “Oli,” entered Florida as a preferred walk-on for the basketball team. He redshirted last season and returned this year as a freshman.
On Sunday, the Gators defeated Tennessee 86-77 to earn their first SEC tournament championship since 2014.
Florida, the No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament, will next play Norfolk State on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Stars 3, Avalanche 4 Oilers 3, Rangers 1 Golden Knights 0, Red Wings 3 Panthers 2, Islanders 4 Ducks 2, Blues 7 Utah Hockey Club 3, Canucks 1 Jets 3, Kraken 2
