Tue Jul 15 20:59:39 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Oregon football player drowns in swimming accident

---

Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - Oregon Ducks redshirt freshman defensive back Todd Lamar Doxey died Sunday after a swimming accident on the McKenzie River just outside of Eugene.

"This is a heartbreaking situation for Todd's family, friends, teammates and classmates," University of Oregon president Dave Frohnmayer said. "We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone touched by this terrible accident."

Doxey, who was 19, was with several teammates, many of who were floating down the river on inner-tubes. Doxey, however, jumped off the Marcola Road Bridge, according to Lane County Sheriff's reports. With most of his teammates already downriver, Doxey started experiencing difficulty swimming around 3:15 p.m.

He was picked up by another boat coming down the river and taken to the McKenzie-Williamette Hospital at 3:55 p.m. before being transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center at 6:25 p.m., where he was pronounced dead shortly after 8 p.m.

"Anytime a young man or woman dies, it is a tragedy," Oregon head football coach Mike Bellotti said. "It's hard to understand why. My heart goes out to his family, to our players, some whom were there and some who will find out about it, and it's just one of those things we don't have answers for."