Costa Rican authorities are considering the possibility that Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller Gardner, died from an allergic reaction.
After a “preliminary ruling ruled out asphyxiation” as Miller’s cause of death, a source close to the investigation told ABC News on Tuesday that there is a possibility the teen had a bad reaction to medication he was given after feeling sick.
The family of the former New York Yankees player fell ill with food poisoning after eating at a restaurant close to their resort, Arenas Del Mar Resort in Manuel Antonio, last Thursday.
“The hotel staff dispatched a medical team immediately, including a licensed doctor, which arrived to handle the emergency situation,” the resort told the outlet Tuesday.
“Our hotel protocol at Arenas Del Mar does not allow for hotel staff to provide any medication to guests.”
The source, however, emphasized that the autopsy has not been completed, and any leads are still preliminary.
The new update comes after authorities clarified that Miller did not die from asphyxiation despite previous reports claiming otherwise.
Costa Rican authorities told ABC News that an examination of the teen’s body found that his airways were not obstructed after initially believing that he had choked on his vomit.
The young baseball player’s body was discovered in his bed at the resort Friday.
On Sunday, Brett, 41, and his wife, Jessica Gardner, announced Miller had “passed away peacefully in his sleep” while they were vacationing in Costa Rica.
“He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation,” they wrote. “We have so many questions and so few answers at this point.
“Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile,” the couple added.
“He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day.”
Brett and Jessica — who have been married since 2007 and also share son Hunter — expressed gratitude for those who offered them “support and encouragement during this difficult time.”
The athlete played with the Yankees for 14 seasons and helped them secure the World Series win in 2009 before retiring in 2021.
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