Marvin Lee passes away

FORMER NATIONAL Under-20 football captain Marvin Lee died at the Arima Hospital yesterday after suffering from a cold. The 21-year-old, who was a resident of Santa Rosa Heights, Arima, will be buried on Thursday, following a funeral service at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tuna-puna. No word has been given on the time of the nor service or the place of burial. An official report on the cause of Lee’s death has not yet been given by doctors.

According to his mother, Dawn Warrick, Marvin got a cold a few days ago but the family thought nothing serious about it. After praying with his mother on Saturday night he went to bed. Warrick said Lee then took a turn for the worse and she called for an ambulance. “The doctors did all that they could have done,” she said. “I’m coping alright. I trust in God and I know there will be a resurrection and one day I’ll see him again.” Warrick thanked FIFA vice-president Austin Jack Warner for his help, saying, “he had been taking care of Marvin from day one.” On March 20 2001, Lee sustained neck and spinal injuries after colliding with American striker Landon Donovan during a CONCACAF Under-20 World Cup qualifying match. The incident left Lee paralysed from the neck down.

Lee attended therapy treatment three times per week at the UWI Sports Centre up to the time of his death. Through the assistance of Warner,  Lee was sent to the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami but failed to regain the use of his limbs. Warner has agreed to fit the bill for all funeral arrangements for Lee, who would have turned 22 on November 22. Sports Minister Roger Boynes also offered Govern-ment’s help in meeting funeral arrangements. “We lost a son of the soil,” he said. “He really developed a fighting spirit and we all admired him.” Expressing their condolences were TTFF president Oliver Camps and George Joseph, current senior team manager who was also manager of the U-20 team led by Lee. "This is most sad for us at this time. We know what Marvin has passed through and now this is a major shock. I extend great condolences to his family,” stated Camps. “Up to a week ago, I took the barber to Marvin’s home as I did so often and he was in his usual high spirits. This is just a major shock to us all,” said Joseph.

The former Tranquillity Government and Defence Force youth team player received the FIFA President’s medal from Sepp Blatter at the 2001 awards ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland for his determination and courage displayed since the injury. A month ago, he was made an honorary member of the TT Pro League. And Lee was presented with an autographed jersey by Donovan and members of the United States senior team, during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers on November 11 2001 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium — a match labelled “The Marvin Lee Day.” An autopsy on Lee’s body is expected to be done today.