LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Kentucky university settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the family of a former student-athlete at the school. The University of the Cumberlands paid the family of Grant Brace more than $14.1 million after he died at a wresting practice almost three years ago at just 20 years old.

Now, the attorney who represents the Brace family tells Spectrum News 1 that Grant’s death was “100%” preventable. 

What You Need To Know

  • Wrestler Grant Brace died of exertional heat stroke in Aug. 2020 

  • The family’s attorney said Brace’s death was “100%” preventable if coaches didn’t ignore the warning signs of heat stroke 

  • The University of the Cumberlands agreed to pay the family $14.1 million in damages 

Brian Vines, is a partner at Lexington-based Minner, Vines and Moncus Injury Lawyers, and said the settlement sets an example for other universities.

“It really recognizes the wrongdoing both of the university and the coaches and sends a message to other institutions that they need to take the safety of student athletes seriously,” Vines said.

Brace, a promising wrestler in high school and in college, died in Aug. 2020 practicing the sport he loved. According to Vines, Brace and other wrestlers were subjected to “punishment practice” and were denied water. Brace passed out and died of exertional heat stroke.

“It was 100% preventable. I mean heat strokes; you’re thirsty, your body temperature rises, then you start to have signs of mental confusion. He exhibited all these signs,” Vines said.

Since the tragedy, Brace’s family has created the B.R.A.C.E. protocol for recognizing and treating heat strokes.

  • B: Be aware
  • R: React quickly
  • A: Activate 911 immediately
  • C: Cool aggressively on site
  • E: Evaluate Core temp

Besides the financial payout, the university will also institute this BRACE training among all its student athletes, coaches and trainers.

“Sometimes there’s a culture of, ‘oh you have to push yourself hard.’ And certainly athletes do that, but it’s knowing when you have these situations where someone is about have a heat stroke so you can take the steps necessary (to prevent it),” Vines said.

Vines said he was fortunate to represent the Brace family and said while the settlement was historic, it’s not nearly enough.

“We can all agree that even at $14 million it doesn’t replace the Brace family’s son and brother,” Vines said.

Both the head wrestling coach and assistant wrestling coach at the time are no longer employed at the University of the Cumberlands.

Vines said while the civil suit is settled, an ongoing criminal investigation related to Brace’s death is still ongoing.

The University of the Cumberlands is in Williamsburg, which is about an hour and a half south of Lexington.

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