UNC swimmer showing steady improvement

Chapel Hill, N.C. — A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill swimmer who was hospitalized last week is showing steady improvement, a UNC doctor said Tuesday.

Sophomore Allison Barnes experienced an apparent severe hyperthermic episode at swim practice Sept. 9, university officials said. Her coaches called 911, and Barnes was taken to UNC Hospitals.

Dr. Thomas Brickner, of UNC's sports medicine department, said in a statement that Barnes has “shown steady improvement over the last 48 hours and has been upgraded to stable condition.”

Barnes has been transferred out of the intensive care unit, but will remain hospitalized for ongoing medical care.

“Allison is awake, responsive and ambulatory with assistance,” Brickner said.

Barnes is a member of UNC's women's swimming and diving teams and earned her first varsity letter competing in distance freestyle events during the past academic year.

Barnes' older sister, Amanda, graduated from UNC in 2008 and played on the lacrosse team.

Keith and JoEllen Barnes thanked "all of the athletic family here at UNC" – from the university chancellor and athletic director to the swimming and lacrosse head and assistant coaches – "for their continued support during this challenging time."

Barnes is from Bel Air, Md., and graduated from C. Milton Wright High School.

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It newsworthy b/c its unusual. We don't hear about every person that has cancer or a heart attack b/c lots of people have cancer and heart attacks. We do hear about the very rare/extreme/interesting cases though, like someone having a heart attack in a public place. Every time a person drowns in a local pool it's news. Every time there is a severe car accident it's news. House fires are news. Anything that doesn't happen every day is news.

Likewise, it's very unusual for a person to have this kind of health incident while swimming, especially a young and presumably healthy person. Add in the prominence of being a university athlete, and yes it's news worthy.

mpheels
September 17, 2008 3:35 p.m.

Hope she continues to get better. Maybe this is newsworthy because she swam for the same North Baltimore Aquatic Club program that produced Olympians Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff.

8675309-9
September 17, 2008 10:32 a.m.

Commentor5 - I was thinking the same thing. What makes this girl any different from the probably dozens of others who became ill on the same day???

Still, praying for her.

God bless.

Rev. RB

Spirit Warrior Woman - Rev. RB
September 17, 2008 7:40 a.m.

"hyperthermic episode" definition: An episode where your body overheats, to a point in which it is dangerous.

In other words, it is the inability of the body to cool itself. If she was in warm water, it would explain the situation.