Tufts University junior and student-athlete Madie Nicpon, 20, died Sunday after taking part in a charity fundraiser at an off-campus private residence the previous day.
‘Beyond Heartbroken’
The following written content by Maria Pasquini
The Tufts University community is mourning the death of student Madie Nicpon.
A 20-year-old junior who played for the Tufts women’s lacrosse team, Nicpon died following a Saturday event “at an off-campus, private rental property in Somerville where the house’s residents were holding a fundraiser for a charity,” according to a message sent out by the school on Monday and obtained by PEOPLE.
The student choked while participating in a charity hot dog eating contest, according to the Rockland/Westchester Journal News. The competition was held as part of a “Play for Pink” event for breast cancer awareness, ABC station WCVB reported.
“After first responders performed life-saving procedures on site, Madie was transported to Mt. Auburn Hospital and subsequently transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she passed away on Sunday afternoon,” Tufts officials said in the statement.
About 3,000 people attended a candlelit vigil to honor the late student-athlete on Sunday, the school said. The memorial was held at Bello Field, where Nicpon and her teammates played their home games.
“The number of community members who turned out to lend support to each other, to Madie’s friends, and to her family was a testament to how many lives Madie touched during her time at Tufts,” school officials wrote in a letter. “In the face of this painful loss, our hearts go out to Madie’s family and friends.”
In a heartfelt tribute from her teammates, Nicpon was remembered as someone whose spirit “touched every single person she met.”
“We are beyond heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Junior Madie Nicpon — ‘Scooter,’ ” they wrote. “Scooter was a true friend and teammate. She truly valued her relationships with her teammates and coaches. Her reach was far beyond our team.””She has and will continue to inspire us every day. We should all strive to live life a little bit more like Scooter did — a person that valued love, loyalty, compassion and friendship,” the team continued. “We love you, Scooter. Keep dancing from above💙🐘.” Read more from People.
