Derek Phillips, a member of the University of Iowa's marching band, was removed from life support on Saturday after collapsing during the Hawkeyes' season-opening football game against Northern Illinois. His family announced the decision in a message posted to his Instagram account.
Phillips collapsed due to heat and suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. "Despite the extraordinary efforts of the ICU team at the University of Iowa Hospital, the damage to his brain was too severe and we have made the heartbreaking decision to remove life support," his family stated.
The University of Iowa had announced prior to the game that the Hawkeye Marching Band and Iowa Spirit Squads would forgo halftime performances due to the extreme heat. Heat indexes in Iowa City reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday. The game's kickoff temperature was 90 degrees, and the university had adjusted the start times for several weekend athletic events because of forecasted high temperatures.
"The entire Hawkeye Marching Band family is thinking of Derek Phillips and his loved ones," said UI Public Relations Manager Chris Brewer in a statement. "We are grateful to his parents for providing regular updates to the students who love Derek. This is heartbreaking for everyone who cares for him."
The university is providing support for students, with counselors on-site for the marching band and School of Music. The band director has also shared resources and encouraged students to seek assistance if needed.
Phillips, a third-year student studying business analytics and information systems, played the horn in the band. His family remembered him as someone who "had the absolute summer of his life touring in drum and bugle corps" and brought "so much light, humor and kindness into the world." They noted that "music was the language of his soul." The family has asked those who knew Phillips to share their memories and photos using the hashtag "Do It For Derek."