Carmel teen was 'gentle spirit'

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - Brett Finbloom was a popular, well-liked soccer player headed for college next week.

"He was very gentle (spirit), didn't complain, would help out friends," said his mom, Dawn Finbloom.

Thursday night he gathered with one of those friends, saying goodbye as they left for different colleges. Before he left for the party, Finbloom and his mother negotiated curfew. He was to be home by 1:30 a.m.

But Brett would never make it to curfew.

Brett left home at 9:15 p.m. He was drinking — underage — for 2 1/2 hours. His heart stopped just after midnight.

STORY UPDATE | Autopsy complete.

His dad, Norm Finbloom says, "it happened at 12:30 a.m. so he didn't even make it to that."

"Brett was out for too long. His heart had stopped too long. Medics revived him,” Dawn Finbloom said.

His brain had been deprived of oxygen too long. Brett died Sunday morning .

24-Hour-News 8 is told that that underage kids at the party were afraid to call 911. Brett's parents say a couple of his friends came up to them and apologized for not being there to save him. They did not know about the new lifeline law.

CLOSER LOOK | 911 call gives insight into case.

The Lifeline law gives immunity to an underage person who is intoxicated and calling for help for a medical emergency. Immunity is granted just to the person calling and as long as they stay there until police arrive. The law is only a month old.

State Senator Jim Merritt authored the bill after IU student Lauren Spierer disappeared.

"Those initial minutes are critical, and when kids delay as they scatter trying to figure out what to do because they are scared versus doing the right thing immediately — that result is devastating,” said Brett’s dad, Norm Finbloom.

Dawn Finbloom said the toughest moment  was walking back into the house after he died. His room is still full of his new college supplies. But instead of sending their son off to college, they are burying their son. 

More than 70 kids gathered for a vigil this weekend at the hospital where he eventually became and organ donor.