Community Rallies Around Milford Family After Tragic Death

MILFORD, CT — Support is pouring in for the family of Melanie Coleman, who died Sunday from injuries suffered two days earlier while practicing with the Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics team. Coleman, 20, was a former all-state gymnast at Jonathan Law High School in Milford and was studying nursing at SCSU.

More than $56,000 has been raised by 1,200 donors through a GoFundMe account that was created two days ago after Coleman was critically injured in a "a tragic freak accident." The accident occurred while Coleman was practicing on the bars at New Era Gymnastics in Hamden, where the SCSU gymnastics team trains one day per week, NBC Connecticut reports.

The Coleman family said that Melanie will “continue to be our light and love,” according to a statement issued to WTNH News 8.

“She was a loving daughter, sister, cousin, teammate, and best friend,” the family wrote in the statement, via WTNH News 8. “We are confident that her spirit, laughter, and humor will live on through the ones who loved her most, as well as through the gift of life to those who needed it most through organ donation.

“We are humbled by the outpouring support from our Milford community (our small town with a big heart) and beyond. She will be sadly and deeply missed by all those who crossed paths with her. The family asks for privacy during this time of healing.”

In addition to the GoFundMe account, a page that coordinates meal donations to the family has been set up at MealTrain.com.

See also: Obituary: Melanie Amber Coleman, 20, Of Milford

To visit the GoFundMe page, click here.

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