OSU to end annual lake jump after student's death

COLUMBUS — A student suffering a medical emergency during Ohio State's annual lake jump Tuesday night died Wednesday, according to OSU officials.

The student has been identified as Austin Singletary, a third-year student from Dayton, Ohio.

City police dispatchers said Singletary was in cardiac arrest when he was pulled from Mirror Lake early Wednesday morning. Students annually jump into the lake the week of the Ohio State and Michigan football game.

"Unfortunately after several hours of medical care, the young man removed from Mirror Lake early this morning has passed away from his injuries," Ohio State Public Safety Director Vernon Baisden said via a release.

Baisden said that Singletary was taken to a hospital in critical condition Wednesday morning and later died. He was not immediately identified as university officials worked to contact family members.

“We are heartbroken over this horrible tragedy," said President Michael V. Drake via a release. "We have tentatively identified the young man as a student and are in the process of reaching out to his family. During this difficult time, counseling services will be made available throughout the holiday weekend for those who seek support.”

Ohio State also announced its intentions to end the annual tradition.

"In spite of significant efforts taken to make this event a safer one, this tragedy has occurred. We must come together and acknowledge that while this is a student-led tradition that has been passed down through the years, we cannot risk another tragedy," the statement reads. "University leadership strongly agrees that we will work with our campus community to end this annual event."

The jump was shut down shortly after the man was taken to the hospital.

The Ohio State-Michigan game will be played Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.