Rutgers student, 18, dies Sunday of speculated heart condition
Patrick Awosogba, an 18-year-old School of Arts and Sciences first-year student and East Brunswick resident, died around 3:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon, playing basketball at the Cook Douglass Recreation Center.
Cause of death appears to be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition in which the heart muscle becomes unusually thick and causes an irregular heartbeat, said Dr. Temipope Awosogba, Patrick Awosogba's sister and Boston resident physician, according to nj.com.
Rutgers police and emergency services responded to the situation shortly after 2 p.m., said E.J. Miranda, University spokesperson.
Lifeguards on duty at the recreation center immediately conducted CPR, Miranda said. A few minutes later, Rutgers EMTs and police began resuscitation efforts through CPR and electronic defibrillation.
“The young man was transported to Robert Wood Johnson (University) Hospital where resuscitation efforts continued,” Miranda said.
Awosogba entered the University in fall 2014 and was scheduled to graduate in 2018, Miranda said. Friends and peers have been expressing grief on social media in memory of the student's death.
Chris Kenney, East Brunswick head baseball coach, told My Central Jersey, "He was such a nice kid.”
Counselors are being made available to any students mourning Patrick's passing, or who are in need of counseling for any reason, Miranda said.
Students living in on-campus facilities are also encouraged to communicate with their Residence Life staff to cope with the loss. Off-campus or commuter students can speak with their Dean of Students.
Tim Grimm, located at Bishop House, 115 College Avenue, is the College Avenue campus Dean of Students. Michelle Jefferson, located at 305 College Hall, is the Cook and Douglass campuses' Dean of Students.
Jeffrey Broggi, located at Lucy Stone Hall A239, is the Livingston campus Dean of Students. Sandra Castro, located at the Busch Campus Center, is the Busch campus Dean of Students.
Students can also consult Counseling, ADAP and Psychiatric Services at 17 Senior Street in New Brunswick or call at (848) 932-7884.
