By Western Front Staff
A 23-year-old man died at Wade King Student Recreation Center after he was found unresponsive in the hot tub, according to a WWU Campus Advisory sent out Friday, Jan. 25.
Following notification of kin, the man was identified as Christopher Kuyvenhoven, a community member who was using the rec center as a guest. Kuyvenhoven passed away in a natural manner while in the hot tub, most likely from a cardiac rhythm abnormality following a strenuous workout, Whatcom County Medical Examiner Gary Goldfogel said.
Goldfogel said while the full autopsy has been completed, there are still subsequent tests to be done over the next weeks and months.
He said there were no suspicious circumstances, and the cause of death was not drug related.
Goldfogel said Kuyvenhoven was from Illinois, but was living in the Bellingham area at the time.
“Chris was adventurous and lived life to the fullest. He touched the lives of many. Chris was kind and had a generous heart and spirit--especially for those less fortunate,” his obituary read.
A memorial for Kuyvenhoven is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2 at Orland Park Christian Reformed Church in Orland Park, Illinois, according to the obituary.
The advisory says lifeguards employed at the pool as well as first responders from Bellingham Fire Department and University Police officers attempted to revive Kuyvenhoven via CPR, but were not successful.
This story was updated at 10:53 a.m. on Jan. 29 to with information from Whatcom County Medical Examiner Gary Goldfogel.
