Dartmouth junior Tate Ramsden passed away on Saturday, Dec. 26 at the YMCA Shelby Aquatic Center in Florida according to the New York Post. He was 21 years old.
Ramsden swam for the Dartmouth team and was from Nashville, Tennessee.
According to the sheriff’s office incident report, Ramsden swam about 4,000 yards before trying to complete a 100-yard swim without breathing. His cousin and sister notice a “lack of movement” and alerted lifeguards.
Ramsden was given CPR but was ultimately pronounced dead on the scene.
Dartmouth President Phil Hanlon released a statement on the incident:
To the Dartmouth community,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of the death of Tate Ramsden, a member of the Class of 2017, who died yesterday while swimming in Sarasota, Fla., where he was on holiday with family members.
We have been in touch with Tate’s family to share our deepest sympathies with them at this time of heartbreaking loss. Tate was a member of the men’s swimming and diving team and a brother in Beta Alpha Omega fraternity.
Tate’s family is planning a memorial service, which will take place next weekend in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn.
I urge students, faculty, and staff who would like to speak to a counselor on their own behalf or out of concern for someone else to contact our Safety and Security office at (603) 646-4000 at any hour. Please do not hesitate to seek help during this time of grief.
Our thoughts are with Tate’s family and friends at this time of great sadness.
Sincerely,
Phil Hanlon
President
Arizona State head coach Bob Bowman spoke out on social media after the death, having become a major opponent of breath-holding attempts that can lead to Shallow Water Blackout after losing a swimmer of his own in the past.
“PLEASE STOP EXTENDED BREATH-HOLDING ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE NOT RELEVANT TO COMPETITIVE SWIMMING PERFORMANCE AND CAN BE FATAL.” — Bob Bowman.