Doctor Whose Team Responded to Miller Gardner on Site Says Teen Was 'Clinically Dead When We Arrived' (Exclusive)

03/26/2025 09:05 PM

"We responded to a patient without vital signs, and he had no vital signs when we arrived," said Dr. Kevin Gannon

• Miller Gardner died on the morning of Friday, March 21.
• Dr. Kevin Gannon tells PEOPLE that he was "clinically dead when we [first responders] arrived."
• Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, an official with Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency, confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that "the preliminary ruling ruled out asphyxiation as the cause of death."

PEOPLE has learned new details about the final moments of Miller Gardner's life.

Dr. Kevin Gannon, who helps run both Manuel Antonio Urgent Care and Quepos Urgent Care, confirmed to PEOPLE that it was Manuel Antonio Urgent Care that treated the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner on site. Miller died unexpectedly while on vacation in Costa Rica with his family on the morning of Friday, March 21.

Gannon tells PEOPLE exclusively that while he was not the direct doctor who treated Miller at Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, his team "was the one performing advanced life support CPR on the site, but there was not much we could do for him."

The doctor said Miller was non-responsive when first responders arrived and confirmed that CPR was performed on him for over 30 minutes.

Related: New York Yankees Player Brett Gardner's 14-Year-Old Son's Cause of Death Ruled Out as Asphyxiation, Investigation Still Ongoing

He said Miller was "clinically dead when we arrived."

"We responded to a patient without vital signs, and he had no vital signs when we arrived. And we do not have records of him at all," explained Gannon, meaning that his organization had not treated him prior.

While he could not determine the reasoning behind Miller's death, he noted that he and his family all had "gastrointestinal symptoms."

Although Gannon did not detail what those symptoms were, the American College of Gastroenterology states that "heartburn, indigestion/dyspepsia, bloating and constipation" are common GI symptoms.

In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort previously said it is "fully cooperating with authorities as they investigate."

Related: Why New York Yankees Brett Gardner's Son Miller's Autopsy Results Might Take Up to Three Months

"We remain committed to supporting our guests and staff, prioritizing their well-being and safety while respecting the privacy of those affected," the statement said.

The statement also said that "the family did not eat at any of Arenas Del Mar's restaurants for lunch or dinner the previous day."

"Additionally, on March 14th, we had an inspection by the Health Ministry in which the hotel passed with a 98.5 out of 100," the statement added, noting that hotel staff are not allowed to provide medication to guests.

On Tuesday, March 25, Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, an official with Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency, confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that "the preliminary ruling ruled out asphyxiation as the cause of death."

"No macro-level abnormalities were observed in the respiratory tract upon inspection of the body," he said about the case that's being handled as a "death under investigation."

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Samples have been sent to histology, toxicology and neuropathology labs for further testing, and results are expected in two to three months, per Garcia.