MOORPARK : Coroner Looks for Cause of Boy’s Death

The Ventura County coroner’s office on Thursday was investigating the cause of death of a 16-year-old Moorpark High School student who collapsed during a neighborhood basketball game.

Kyle Gulbrand collapsed about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday while playing basketball near his home and was pronounced dead at Los Robles Regional Medical Center at 5:53 p.m., officials said.

“His friend called me from a pay telephone and said Kyle had blacked out,” his mother, Donna, said Thursday. “By the time I got there, he was not in real good shape. There was no pulse and we were trying to administer (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). His color was not real good.”

Gulbrand said her son, who was in the 10th grade, had been diagnosed as having a benign tumor in his brain 15 months ago but was told the condition was not life-threatening.

At the time, he had a medical device installed to allow his spinal fluid to flow properly, she said.

“He just turned 16,” Gulbrand said. “He was having a belated birthday party this Saturday, which he’s not going to get to do. He was the class comic and really loved by all of his friends. That’s the way I’d like him to be remembered.”

Gulbrand said funeral arrangements had not been finalized.

Fred Walker, assistant Ventura County medical examiner, said an autopsy conducted Wednesday did not uncover a clear cause of death, which led him to request additional microscopic and toxicological tests.

Results could take several weeks, he said.