Damn, this is messed up. Chris Staniforth was chatting with a friend after a job interview, felt pains in his chest, started to spasm, and passed away. Cause of death: DVT, caused by a blood clot blockage that can result after long periods of restricted movement — the reason you’re given little exercise cards on aircraft. “He could play for hours and hours on end, sometimes 12 hours in a stretch,” said his grieving father.
“I’m not for one minute blaming the manufacturer of Xbox. It isn’t their fault that people use them for so long. But I want to highlight the dangers that can arise.”
What a crazy, sad story, and full credit to his dad for recognising that it’s a matter of personal responsibility rather than trying to condemn video games. As Kotaku points out, looks like the Sun managed to run the story without hacking into anyone’s account, too. [The Sun via Kotaku]
Shepard
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 3:13 PMPoor guy. please tell me he wasnt playing ODST, that would be a shame
Glenn
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 8:38 AMAside from making fun of a dead person, no I doubt he was playing ODST… ODST only takes 4 hours to complete.
Stu
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 4:04 PMTo make a minor educational point, it’s when a DVT turns into a pulmonary embolus (a P.E.) that people can die. The DVT breaks loose, travels up the major veins, goes through the right heart (usually) and then forms an obstruction. Right heart can’t pump to the lungs, and left heart has nothing filling it. Game over. Poor bastard.
Matt L
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 3:22 PMSo… My left heart will be OK?
wsDK_II
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 4:12 PMHow come “this is messed up”…..It is cause and effect. Long periods of restriced movement lead to DVT. It would be like expecting to be ok after getting hit by a car, or doing drugs (like Amy Winehouse).
It is pretty simple actually – do drugs, you die. Dont move for most of your day, you die.
Sad sure, but not messed up.
thing
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 9:59 PMActually, “do drugs, you die” is not quite accurate. Millions of people do drugs and don’t die and millions of people use a computer and don’t die. Cocaine binge for 12 hours, high risk, sit at a computer all day every day and don’t move more than the muscle on your mouse click finger also high risk. This reminds me I need to move more.
Steve
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 4:13 PM“I’m not for one minute blaming the manufacturer of Xbox. It isn’t their fault that people use them for so long. But I want to highlight the dangers that can arise.”
I’m applauding his father for adding this disclaimer, and admitting his son was a freak.
It’s too easy these days for money-grubbing parents to sue the pants off companies or use the incident as a soapbox to champion their bullshit.
Jon
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 4:24 PMAs a fellow gamer, RIP mate.
Mike Hunt
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 5:43 PMI have a friend whose name is Brad. He is addicated to WOW and plays 8 – 12 hours a night. He oftens comes to work smelling, as he doesn’t have time to shower, or brush his teeth. He’s got this awesome mullet, as he hasn’t had a haircut in 2 years. His wife and kids hardly see him, and he’s become a hermit.
It’s a shame, but I think he’s gonna die of a DVT as well. Either that or the AIDS will kill him.
Ryan
Monday, August 1, 2011 at 8:57 PMDoes his Avatar reflect his new status?
No biggie
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 12:35 AMWhy didn’t his parents put that family timer on his xbox 360. And he should of @ least do some form of physical activity. In his pic he looks like he didn’t care to much Abt his hygiene either. Fireman status
No biggie
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 12:44 AMTo live & die as a gamer