9-Year-Old Boy Collapses And Dies At Perth Juniors Basketball Game

On Saturday morning 9-year-old Tyreez Mundriona was walking off the court at halftime during the state’s Junior championships when he collapsed into unconsciousness. He never woke up.

Despite the heroic efforts of medical professionals in the crowd, who even used a defibrillator to revive him, Tyreez passed away. The reasons why are still unknown.

Matt Burd, the boy’s coach, described the tragic moment when Tyreez collapsed to 7 News.

“Coming back to the bench after the first siren had gone for half-time I just thought he had kind of tripped over,” Mr Burd stated.

“I went over to him and said ‘are you all right’, but he just never got up. I went to get help, I’m not a doctor or anything but there were nurses all around. He had help but they just couldn’t save him.”

The boy’s family remains in shock today, paying tribute to the “awesome” youngster, who would have been 10 on Sunday. They also moved to clarify that there was nothing in Tyreez’s medical history that might explain what happened to him:

“The family would like to clarify that Tyreez had no pre-existing medical conditions.”

The family went on to thank “all families and staff of Lakeside Basketball for their immense love and support”. They also thanked the Wesley College in South Perth for making Tyreez the wonderful person he was and for “teaching him the core values that took him through his short-lived life”.

Tyreez collapsed not long after 10am at Warwick Stadium. He was later rushed to the Joondalup Health Campus by ambulance, but could not be saved. A coronial investigation is expected to be carried out. Following his death, all games at the stadium were cancelled.

Mr Burd was one of many who spoke out in memory of Tyreez in the wake of his passing. While teammate, friends and the WA basketball community left out basketballs and shoes on their doorstep, his coach fondly remembered the young boy.

He described Tyreez as a “lovely, gentle, caring kid with the sweetest heart”.

“He was down to earth and cared so much about basketball and his teammates. We’re all wearing black tape today and it’s not just Lakeside. It’s most people in the WA basketball community.”

“His sudden and tragic death has reminded everyone in the club how life is so fragile and can be taken away in an instant.”

Tyreez was the nephew of Yaz Mubarakai, the Labor Party candidate for Jandakot. In a statement to the press, Labor MP for Cockburn Fran Logan, who is coordinating Mr Mubarakai’s campaign for the seat, said this on behalf of the family:

“This is an absolutely tragic loss for the family,” Mr Logan said. “They are a very close family. They would appreciate being left alone to grieve at this shocking time.”