Navy Lineman David Forney Dies In Dorm Room At U.S. Naval Academy

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Officials say an offensive guard on the Navy football team was the second midshipman to die this month at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Midshipman 1st Class David Forney, 22, a senior from Walkersville, Maryland, died Thursday night after being found unresponsive in Bancroft Hall. The cause of death is being investigated; foul play is not suspected.

Forney was discovered unresponsive in his room by a fellow midshipman. A CPR-certified midshipman administered resuscitation efforts and he was taken to emergency responders to Anne Arundel County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“The entire Naval Academy family – the Brigade of Midshipmen, the faculty, staff, and coaches – are heartbroken over the tragic and unexpected loss of Midshipman David Forney,” said Vice Admiral Sean Buck, superintendent of the Naval Academy, in a statement. “On behalf of the Naval Academy family, my wife, Joanne, and I extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the Forney family, their friends, as well as to David’s extended Naval Academy family.”

After completing a year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, Forney reported to Annapolis for the Class of 2020’s induction. A member of the 9th Company, he was a political science major who was assigned to commission as a cryptologic warfare officer this May.

“Words cannot express our pain and sorrow,” said Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo. “First and foremost, our deepest condolences to the Forney family. The Navy football brotherhood is not a team, we are a family. We are devastated to have lost one of our brothers. We all loved – and will always love – David. We pray for strength during this most difficult time.”

Navy Football officer representatives Navy Capt. Timika Lindsay and Marine Corps Col. Jeffrey Smitherman called Forney a hard charger on and off the field. They spoke of his natural gifts of passion, intellect and perseverance, which enabled him not only to see the game, but also inspire and encourage others to become better players and midshipmen.

Forney started all 13 games at guard for Midshipmen, led the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in rushing with 360.5 yards per game, and was named all-conference in the American Athletic Conference, according to Naval officials.

Forney is survived by his parents, Erika and Rick, and his three siblings, Chris, Rebekah, and Erik, the Naval Academy said on its Facebook page.

A midshipman died earlier this month while taking the semi-annual physical readiness test, Patch reported. Duke Carrillo, 21, of Texas collapsed during the 1.5-mile run. Emergency responders first on the scene attempted to resuscitate Carrillo who was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center, where he died shortly after noon. Carrillo and his twin brother, Dylan, were both Naval Academy midshipmen.