LEXINGTON, KY.—The Fayette County Coroner’s office has confirmed this morning that a 13-year-old student attending an academic camp at Transylvania University has died. The student lost consciousness while participating in a recreational swim Monday evening. Two lifeguards and an assistant swim coach applied the available automated external defibrillator and performed CPR until emergency medical technicians arrived on the scene. The student was then transported to the University of Kentucky hospital.
“In the midst of these tragic circumstances, our hearts go out to this young student’s family and friends, as well as the other students on our campus affected by this incident,” Transylvania President R. Owen Williams said. Williams, who was attending a conference out-of-state, is making arrangements to return to campus this afternoon.
The student was attending a week-long summer camp titled Introduction to Java Programming. That camp, as well as the College Preparation camp held on campus this week, has been canceled. The students have contacted their parents, who are making arrangements to pick up their children. Session 3 swim lessons, scheduled through Wednesday, July 2, have also been canceled, and the university pool in the William T. Young Campus Center will remain closed until further notice.
Transylvania staff and administrators will continue to gather information about the incident and will release details as they are available.