Grant Wahl died because of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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A tribute to journalist Grant Wahl is shown on a screen before the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between England and France, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP)
Grant Wahl died from a ruptured aortic aneurysm, not a COVID-19 vaccine
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- An autopsy found that journalist Grant Wahl died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm, according to his wife. She said that his death was unrelated to COVID-19 vaccines.
On Dec. 14, Dr. Céline Gounder, wife of the late sportswriter Grant Wahl, announced in a post that Wahl died from a burst blood vessel.
The New York Times reported that Wahl "died suddenly" early Dec. 10 while covering the World Cup in Qatar. This is true, but in some circles the phrase connotes something more sinister: a death caused by a COVID-19 vaccine.
"Died Suddenly" is the title of an anti-vaccine movie that promotes debunked claims and unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines, framing some deaths that were unrelated to COVID-19 as the result of vaccines.
News of Wahl’s death was posted on a Facebook page called "Died Suddenly/Unwanted Effect," which describes itself as "sharing stories about people who’ve died suddenly or experienced unwanted effects potentially from c" — an apparent reference to COVID-19 vaccines.
The post about Wahl includes images of two tweets about COVID-19 vaccines, including one from April 7, 2021, saying he was thrilled to get his first dose.
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Gounder, who served on President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 task force, said in her post that an autopsy was performed by the New York City medical examiner’s office after Wahl’s body was repatriated to the United States. It found that he died from "the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm," she said.
"The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms," Gounder wrote. "No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him."
She then seemed to address several theories about his death.
"His death was unrelated to COVID," she wrote. "His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death." (Wahl’s brother had initially speculated that the journalist was murdered, but he told The New York Times he no longer suspects foul play.)
We rate claims that Wahl’s death was caused by a COVID-19 vaccine False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, Dec. 10, 2022
Fútbol with Grant Wahl, A note from Grant's wife, Céline Gounder, Dec. 14, 2022
MedicalNewsToday, Ascending aortic aneurysm: What you need to know, visited Dec. 14, 2022
PolitiFact, 'Died Suddenly' repeats debunked COVID-19 vaccine claims, promotes conspiracy theory, Nov. 29, 2022
The New York Times, Grant Wahl Died of a Burst Blood Vessel, His Family Says, Dec. 14, 2022
The Associated Press, Soccer journalist Grant Wahl died of undetected aortic aneurysm - wife, Dec. 14, 2022
University of Washington, Alumni Céline Gounder appointed to President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 task force, Nov. 17, 2020
Grant Wahl tweet, April 7, 2021
The New York Times, Soccer journalist dies at World Cup after collapsing at Argentina game, Dec. 9, 2022
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Grant Wahl died from a ruptured aortic aneurysm, not a COVID-19 vaccine
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