Online Fundraiser to Benefit Family of Teen Who Died at Swim Club Event

A Wadsworth teen died during a swimming club event held Wednesday night at Vernon Hills High School.

Emergency personnel were called to the high school just before 9 p.m. where they found the 17-year-old boy unresponsive in the men’s locker room, according to the Daily Herald. He was taken to Advocate Medical Center in Libertyville where he was pronounced dead.

The teen, who the Vernon Hills Review reports has been identified as Warren Township High School junior Josh Church, died of undetermined natural causes. An autopsy Thursday revealed Church did not drown and there were no signs of drugs or alcohol in his system, Robert James, deputy Lake County coroner, told the Vernon Hills Review.

Church was a part of the Cats Aquatic Team, according to the newspaper.

An online fundraising page has collected over $7,500 to assist the Church family with expenses following Josh’s death as of Friday morning. A YouCaring web page has been set up to collect funds for the family.

According to the YouCaring fundraising page, Josh is being remembered as an energetic and compassionate -- a born leader.

“Josh was always positive and used his competitive nature to help push his teammates to swim faster,” according to the YouCaring fundraising page. “He was loved by his teammates and leaves many memories and stories that are getting his family and friends through this very heartbreaking and difficult time.”

More via the Daily Herald, the Vernon Hills Review and the YouCaring fundraising page for the Church family

Photo caption: The Church family Photo credit: YouCaring fundraiser page