Questions remain about cause after collegiate swimmer dies
SARASOTA (FOX 13) - A young, collegiate swimmer dies suddenly in the pool, leaving his family, doctors and the community wondering what happened.
The news has turned the lives of Tate Ramsden's family upside down. Even those who never knew him are shocked that he drowned.
"I can't imagine what his parents are going through. I would just be so devastated. Especially doing something healthy and athletic," said Lisette Grieco.
Lisette Grieco's daughter swims at the same Sarasota YMCA were Ramsden died.
"You would think, 'I'm at the pool and at the gym I'm doing the right thing,'" she said.
Ramsden was on vacation with his family in Sarasota. He swam for Dartmouth College on their swim team.
Deputies said the 21- year old was swimming 100's, which are 4 laps across the pool without surfacing for air. It was during that time his family noticed he was underwater and not moving.
Lifeguards pulled him out and tried CPR, but it was too late.
The coroner will be looking into whether a pre-existing medical condition contributed to his death.
Doctors say, in most cases when a young athlete suddenly dies, it is heart related.
"Nobody knows the underlying percentage. If you have this problem and if you don't do high level impact or exercising at competition levels it may never happen," said Sarasota cardiologist Dr.Rick Yaryura.
If his heart was in good condition, Doctor Yaryura said, holding your breath too long under water could cause other issues.
"It would be if you held your breath right now too and beared down. Your blood pressure would slow down your heart rate could slow down and you could faint," he said.
Ramsden was due to graduate next year. Grieco said the death should serve as a warning to others.
"I think young people need to get that message that they need to stop if they feel the first inkling of anything," she said.