FGCU student dies after reportedly being in distress

After less than a month on campus, a 19-year-old freshman at FGCU was pronounced dead at Gulf Coast Hospital Medical Center early Sunday after he was reported in distress at a university dorm.

Susan Evans, vice president and chief of staff at FGCU, confirmed the death Sunday afternoon of Austin Lee Vonckx, 19, of Trinity, Pasco County.

Evans said the Lee County EMS was called to the university's Biscayne Village dorm in the South Village area of the school shortly after 4 a.m. "University police were called and told Lee EMS was on the way out for a distressed student at Biscayne Hall in the South Village," she said.

A FGCU police report event narrative on the call lists a student having trouble breathing, "possibly intoxicated."

She said when the EMS got there Vonckx was unresponsive. He was taken to Gulf Coast where he was pronounced dead, she said.

A police report on the incident said a university officer went to the location, a two-bedroom, split-floor suite, when told Lee EMS was responding. The university reports that 406 first-year students live in the dorm.

"Living in this residence hall affords first-year students the opportunity to become part of a special community while encouraging them to succeed academically and to get involved in the life of the campus and the greater community," the FGCU website states.

The officer found Vonckx in a dorm room on a bed, face-up with a cellphone in his right hand and unresponsive. San Carlos Park Fire and Rescue and Lee EMS then showed up and began CPR, the officer reported.

"There has been no cause of death made yet," Evans said, and there is no evidence of foul play. Additionally, she said that the FGCU Police Department would be conducting an investigation into Vonckx's death.

"We have reached out to his family with condolences," she said, and the university has counselors in place for students.

"This is a terrible tragedy," she said, happening to a student who had been on campus less than a month.

Students at FGCU took to Twitter to express their shock and grief at the incident Sunday.

A twitter user named @brendan_goiran wrote "please pray for the family of my good friend Austin Vonckx, he passed away this morning at the age of 19. Rest in peace buddy." and "Be sure to always tell your friends and family how much they mean to you because you just really never know."

The student newspaper, Eagle News, mentioned the news online Sunday night.

"Our hearts are with the family and friends of #FGCU student, Austin Vonckx."

Vonckx' death is at least the fourth student death occurring on campus.

In 2011, junior Joel Johnson, 21, drowned while taking a late-night swim behind North Lake Village. In 2007, freshman Devin Lurain, 19, died of alcohol poisoning in his residence at Mangrove Hall. And in 2006, junior Renold Algoo, 20, died in a single-vehicle accident on FGCU's Lake Parkway West road.

Prior to enrolling at FGCU, Vonckx worked as a server at Betheny Center, a retreat and conference center in Lutz managed by the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg.
- Reporter Dave Breitenstein contributed to this story.

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