College football athlete Reed Ryan has tragically passed away at the age of 22 after collapsing during a workout, his family have announced.
According to an obituary, the University of Minnesota Duluth football player was training in a weight room on November 21 "doing what he loved" when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest.
The athletic training team implemented CPR and the 22-year-old regained his pulse. He was then taken to St. Mary's-Duluth Medical Center, where the ICU staff treated him before his death.
His family shared the tragic news, saying in a statement: "This was the result of an undetected genetic heart condition and a large, loving heart.
"The athletic training team was tremendous in their efforts to immediately initiate CPR and regain his pulse. The ICU hospital staff at St. Mary's-Duluth were amazing in doing everything possible for him."
Ryan was a double major in Marketing and Professional Sales at the university’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics.
He graduated from Waunakee High School in 2019 after being the State of Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Year and then accepted a full-ride to North Dakota State University.
After four seasons in North Dakota, he transferred to the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he logged eight total tackles and one sack in his one season with the Bulldogs.
His family penned a heartfelt tribute to him, writing: "Reed had a contagious smile and lived life to the fullest in his short years. Reed loved people, he could talk to anyone and prided himself on being surrounded by friends, family, mentors, and being part of a team."
Ryan's football coach Curt Wiese also shared an emotional message, shedding light on the young athlete's time at UMD: "Reed aspired to be better every day at whatever task was at hand. He helped bring out the best in others with his positive attitude, infectious smile, and genuine care for the people around him.
"We were fortunate to have Reed on our team, and he made our program, our department, and our community a better place in a short period of time. Reed will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on forever," Wiese continued. "He was the epitome of a UMD Bulldog, and what we can all aspire to be."
UMD director of athletics Forrest Karr added: "Reed had a positive impact on so many and we are deeply saddened by his passing. Reed was a kind, caring, and thoughtful young man who enjoyed bringing people together."
The young star agreed to donate several organs before his passing and will contribute towards the NCAA's research study to help prevent similar fatalities from happening to other athletes, per Daily Mail.
He is survived by his parents, his sister, brother, two nephews, grandmother, great-aunt, and two uncles.
Our thoughts are with Ryan's family and friends at this time.
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