George Foreman, the legendary boxer and former heavyweight champion who transitioned from boxing to mega-millionaire businessman with his George Foreman Grills always seemed to have a smile on his face. But today, that smile is replaced with sadness as news of his daughter, Freeda Foreman, has died at 42.
George Foreman confirmed the news on Twitter with a touching message Sunday night asking for “one more day” with his daughter.
“Daddy I want to box, ‘Get an Education first’ I said,” Foreman tweeted. “Well she brought the bacon home (degree) 2 kids 3 grands (husband). First Sunday in 42 years without my Freeda.”
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Freeda was found unresponsive at her home in Houston, according to ABC affiliate KTRK. Homicide investigators said no foul play is suspected.
Following her father into the boxing ring, Foreman became a professional fighter in 2000 and won her first five fights before losing in November 2001. She left the sport after her first defeat to focus on raising a family. As her father noted in his tribute to her, Freeda raised two children and was also grandmother to three children.
When it comes to suicide and suicide attempts there are rate differences depending on demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity and race. Nonetheless, suicide occurs in all demographic groups.
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In the U.S., no complete count of suicide attempt data are available. The CDC gathers data from hospitals on non-fatal injuries from self-harm as well as survey data.
In 2015, (the most recent year for which data are available), approximately 575,000 people visited a hospital for injuries due to self-harm.
Based on the 2017 National Survey of Drug Use and Mental Health it is estimated that 0.6 percent of the adults aged 18 or older made at least one suicide attempt. This translates to approximately 1.4 million adults. Adult females reported a suicide attempt 1.4 times as often as males.
While we don't know what Freeda was going through or thinking to commit suicide, some wonder if the cause could be Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a...
... neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries. Symptoms may include behavioral problems, mood problems, and problems with thinking. Symptoms typically do not begin until years after the injuries. CTE often gets worse over time and can result in dementia. It is unclear if the risk of suicide is altered.
Most documented cases have occurred in athletes involved in contact sports such as boxing, American football, wrestling, ice hockey, rugby and soccer. Other risk factors include being in the military, prior domestic violence, and repeated banging of the head. The exact amount of trauma required for the condition to occur is unknown.Definitive diagnosis can only occur at autopsy.
Whatever the cause, our hearts and prayers go out to the Foreman family.
