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WVU student passes away following 'catastrophic medical emergency'

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A West Virginia University student had died following an incident described as a "catastrophic medical emergency" at a fraternity house off campus earlier this week.
 
According to the university's website, Nolan Burch died Friday.
 
"Words cannot describe the heartache we, as a West Virginia University family, feel at the loss of one of our own – Nolan Michael Burch – who passed away today," said WVU President E. Gordon Gee. "The outpouring of love and support from his friends and this community has been what you would expect from Mountaineers, and I would ask that you continue to keep the Burch family and many friends in your thoughts and prayers."
 
Students remembered Burch during a candlelight vigil Friday night.
 
"The two or three months I knew Nolan were the brightest two months of my life," said a student.
 
University and Morgantown police continue to investigate what occurred around midnight Wednesday, when 911 responders were called to an off-campus fraternity house for a medical emergency.
 
Burch, 18, of Williamsville, New York, was a freshman majoring in pre-sport management.
 
The university has since suspended all activities involving fraternities and sororities.
 
Police said Burch was found on a floor without a pulse. When an officer arrived, he saw someone performing CPR on Burch, police said. The officer performed CPR until EMS arrived.
 
Burch was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
 
Earlier in the night, Burch sent a chilling Tweet saying, "It's about to be a very eventful night to say the least."
 
News of Burch's death has hit the entire West Virginia University community hard.
 
"Everybody is devastated about it. It's a terrible thing to happen," said WVU senior Nicole Ham.
 
Kappa Sigma members told Channel 11's Pamela Osborne that their charter was revoked and a party held Wednesday night wasn't a fraternity-sponsored event.
 
"He's an amazing person, and he's in our thoughts and prayers," said Zack Feckso, the fraternity's former president.
 
Detectives from the Morgantown Police Department have been working with WVU police to identify and interview pledges and fraternity members who may have been with the victim before the 911 call.
 
The police chief told Channel 11's Cara Sapida they will be looking into three things: hazing, alcohol violations and criminal misconduct.
 
No charges have been filed, and the investigation continues.

WPXI

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