Robin Carey, 13. Credit: Facebook
Vancouver Island’s softball community is grieving the loss of a teenage girl who played for the Victoria Devils Fastball Club.
Robin Carey, 13, passed away on Friday, March 23. According to Island Health, Carey had an invasive Group A streptococcal infection, commonly called strep throat, at the time of her death.
The Victoria Devils Fastball Club announced Robin’s death on their website.
“Robin was a great person, great teammate, and had a tremendous passion for the game of softball,” the club said in a statement.
“The entire organization is shaken by this tragic occurrence and our thoughts and prayers go out to Robin?s family, friends, and teammates during this unimaginable time.”
Carey was a member of the 2004 Devils since the team’s inception. She was also a member of the Hampton Little League from 2011 to 2017, in both the baseball and softball divisions. She represented Hampton at the tournament level in both sports.
In 2016 and 2017, Carey competed on the softball team that represented Canada at the World Series. Hampton Little League also put out a statement.
“Robin was a force to be reckoned with behind the plate, at bat, and on one,” the Hampton Little League board of directors said in the statement.
“Robin is mourned by the Hampton community and will be deeply missed by those whose lives she?s touched. Our heartfelt condolences are with Robin?s family, friends and teammates at this time.”
A memorial picture for Robin Carey. Credit: Hampton Little League
A GoFundMe has been set up for her parents, Roy and Tracy.
Island Health is asking any softball players and others who were in contact with Carey to see a doctor if they are exhibiting symptoms.
Anyone who was in close contact with Carey over the last seven days is eligible for preventative antibiotic treatment and can see a doctor for that medication. If close contact was more than seven days ago, preventative antibiotic treatment is not recommended and people should watch for symptoms. If more than a week has passed without developing symptoms, it is unlikely that someone would fall ill from exposure.
Symptoms include a severe sore throat, pain when you swallow, swollen tonsils and lymph nodes, a fever and white or yellow spots on the back of a bright red throat. People with strep throat may also have a headache and belly pain.
Strep throat can be passed from person to person. When a person who has strep throat breathes, coughs, or sneezes, tiny droplets with the strep bacteria go into the air. These droplets can be breathed in by other people. If someone comes into contact with strep, it will take two to five days before symptoms appear. Island Health said the likelihood of a spread of the infection from routine social or sports contact with an ill person is low.
The mortality rate of invasive Group A strep is about 20 per cent. Thirty-one cases of invasive Group A strep have been reported between Jan. 1 and March 16 in Island Health’s service area. In 2017, there were a total of 49 cases.
Robin Carey’s player photos. Credit: Facebook
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