UWM Tragedy

Posted on by

Tragedy stuck the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus unexpectedly March 5 when Connor J. Driscoll a 19-year old sophomore from Madison, Wisconsin died while practicing swimming in the UWM Klotsche Center Pool.

Arriving at the University pool around 7:30 a.m. with his roommate Samuel Hemes Driscoll was preparing for an entrance aquatics test later in the week for the U.S. Air Force.

Rosie Cadman, a junior at UWM and fitness assistant at the Klotsche Center was not present for the accident she said“ I am praying for the family that lost their boy at UWM today and instead of placing blame I am giving it up to every staff member who put all they had into something most of us could not fathom.”

Driscoll seemed to be under no distress before later being unable to come up for air reported the Milwaukee Fire Department. On duty student lifeguards proceeded to pull Connor Driscoll out of their water and preformed CPR, which the students were trained and certified in.

The fire department, once arriving, tried to revive Driscoll but were unsuccessful with a defibrillator, and he was pronounced dead shortly after 8 a.m.

A statement sent out to the UWM student body via email by Chancellor Michael Lovell acknowledged the death at the Klotsche Center. Lovell said, “It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the death this morning on our campus of one of our students.”

A memorial service was held for young Connor Driscoll at St. Dennis Catholic Church, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. last Friday, March 9, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding. Madison.com reported that in memory of Connor Driscoll flowers could be to the Dane Country Human Society in Madison. A memorial service on UWM campus Monday night at 7 p.m. with candlelight ceremony in Spaights Plaza for Connor Driscoll

No harmful play or suspicion is suspected in death of the UWM student. Driscoll was diagnosed with a bleeding disorder in 2007, but was known to be a great swimmer.

Plans have not yet been made for a standing memorial of some sort for Connor Driscoll UWM Vice Chancellor University Relations and Communications Tom Luljak said Friday. Luljak said, “It’s a very sad, sad incident.”

Graduating from Madison LaFollette High School in 2010, Driscoll was currently working off-campus at Aloft Hotel off of 3rd street. Connor is survived by his mother Beverly Lukowski and father Shane Ruthann, along with four siblings in Madison.