- Kyle Busch had a sinus issue at Watkins Glen that was aggravated by G-forces.
- Just a day ahead of his death, Busch experienced shortness of breath.
- The family stated that Busch passed away from severe illness.
Kyle Busch died on Thursday after being hospitalised due to illness. However, the cause behind his death has not been revealed through any official statement.
All fans and media knew at the time was that during the race weekend at Watkins Glen International, Busch had radioed from inside his car asking for a doctor after the race and saying that he needed a shot.
Then, ahead of the Dover race, when media members asked how he was feeling, Busch admitted that the sinus issue still lingered and that coughing remained part of the ordeal. But it now seems there was more beneath the surface than what met the eye.
Kyle Busch experienced shortness of breath
NASCAR celebrity Kyle Busch experienced shortness of breath, felt as though his body was overheating, and was coughing up blood the day before his death, according to a 911 call obtained Friday.
Busch had been testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord, North Carolina, on Wednesday while preparing for the Coca-Cola 600 scheduled for Sunday, May 24, when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, according to several people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The details surrounding the matter had not been disclosed by Busch’s family or team.
During the emergency call placed later that afternoon from the General Motors training facility, an unidentified caller told dispatchers in a composed tone, “I’ve got an individual that’s shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”
Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex, and the caller informed dispatchers, “He is awake,” according to audio released by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office.
“Severe illness”
The caller then directed emergency responders to the facility, described the location as beside Hendrick Motorsports, and requested that sirens be turned off upon arrival. EMTs arrived on the scene, and Busch was eventually transported to a hospital in Charlotte, where he died on May 21.
At this time, it remains unknown what illness led to Busch’s death. NASCAR stated earlier this week that he had been hospitalised ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 after suffering from a “severe illness.” He did not recover.
Before that, during the race weekend at Watkins Glen, when Busch requested a doctor and a shot over team radio, the television broadcast noted that he had been dealing with a sinus cold that worsened under the strain of G-forces and elevation changes at the New York road course. Even while carrying that burden, Busch still managed to finish P8 in the race.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as we get more information.
