Advertisement

911 calls provide more details on Matiss Kivlenieks' tragic death

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died in a tragic fireworks accident on July 4. (Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died in a tragic fireworks accident on July 4. (Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

A series of calls made to 911 were released on Tuesday that provided further details into the tragic death of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks.

Kivlenieks, 24, died of chest trauma after being struck by a fireworks mortar blast at a Michigan home on July 4.

"Hey, we have someone who was hit by a fireworks. Can you come here immediately? He’s breathing. We have a nurse here. He’s breathing, but he’s not doing very good," one of the calls said, as reported by Corey Williams of The Associated Press.

Another caller said Kivlenieks was "getting ready to go into convulsions" prior to being taken to hospital.

"There was some minor injury to his exterior, which would lead us to believe that some portion of the firework made contact with him, but we're not really sure if it was a direct hit or whether the percussion from the explosion caused his injuries," Lt. Jason Meier said via ESPN News Services.

Responders arrived less than five minutes after receiving the initial 911 call.

"We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time," said Blue Jackets president John Davidson in the team’s statement. "Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten."

Countless members of the hockey community flocked to social media to express their condolences and share their memories of the late goalie.

More from Yahoo Sports