LEWISTON, Maine — A Bates College freshman from New Hampshire collapsed and died after a taking a twilight dip in the ocean while participating in a study-abroad program in Scotland, officials said Monday.
Evan Dube, 19, of Plaistow, N.H., went into the water while he and nine other Bates students were on the beach for a cookout south of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands on Saturday night, police said. He collapsed after returning from the water and was airlifted to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Dube went for a swim shortly after the group arrived at 9 p.m., police said. His friends performed CPR while awaiting help, police said.
Scottish police issued a statement saying the death wasn’t considered suspicious. An autopsy will be performed.
The Bates students were participating in the Shetland Islands Climate and Settlement Project, an archaeological research project funded by the National Science Foundation involving scholars from Bates and other colleges and universities. They had been in Scotland since April 30.
At Bates, more than 200 students, faculty and staff gathered at Perry Atrium on the Lewiston campus for comfort and support Sunday night.
Majoring in classical studies, Dube built upon his high school theatrical resume by playing the role of a cowboy in the Bates production of “Bus Stop.” He also won the competition to become the first new student to recite the Bates mission statement during freshman orientation.
College chaplain Bill Blaine-Wallace recounted how Dube, a Buddhist, bounded into his office, opening the door to a discussion of his religious beliefs.
The dean of students said Dube would be sorely missed.
“We will be absorbing this terrible loss for many days and long into the future,” Tedd Goundie wrote in an email to students.
Dube’s classmates in Scotland are receiving grief counseling and will return to the U.S. as scheduled on Tuesday, the college said.
Did he collapse or did he drown? This is very unclear.
“He collapsed after returning from the water and was airlifted to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.”
In the initial report, it didn’t say that. It was very unclear as to what happened. The headline said collapsed, but the article didn’t elaborate, just said that he was in the water.
It stated very clearly that the young man collapsed and died after coming out of the water!!—-How very sad.
Possibly a jellyfish – how warm is the Scottish water this time of year – some of them can be deadly in minutes, so I’ve read. So sorry for the loss – sounded like a bright future ahead for him.
In the initial report, it didn’t say that. It was very unclear as to
what happened. The headline said collapsed, but the article didn’t
elaborate, just said that he was in the water.
I read this when it was first posted and it was NOT very clear. The headline said one thing and the contents of the story said another. It was changed after I made this comment.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. May all your memories of Evan help you through the tough times.
Nice young guy, had ambitions to succeed in everything he did. Rest in peace pal. My sympathys go out to his family today
So sad. My condolences to the family and friends.
Sincere condolences to his family, friends, and the Bates community; I work at a college too, and a student’s death- no matter the cause- is very deeply felt by everyone.
May Evan’s family and friends cherish their memories they had with him and feel God’s presence, somehow during this difficult time. Prayers and thoughts go to them all.
We don’t like to think of death when it involves young people, yet life is always risky and dying is always a possibility. Just a reminder that everything in life is temporary and to be appreciated fully while we are lucky to have it, including everyone that we care about, everything that we may have at any given time and of course our own lives at well. Look around at what you have and who you have around and enjoy it all fully and appreciate it. The young man seems ot have been a fine fellow and will be a great loss to family and friends. Nice at least that he was doing something that he cared about and was making the most of his opertunities. Sounds like he will be missed.
wow….sad story. :-(
my thoughts and prayers goes out to his family!So young,gone to soon,rip!