COLUMBUS – The Franklin County Coroner’s Office today announced final details surrounding the tragic death of Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso on August 5. According to the coroner’s findings, Urso’s sudden death was caused by Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.
“After a complete autopsy and further testing, we determined that Kirk Urso died of a natural disease known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, which is a genetic defect of the heart,” said Franklin County Coroner Dr. Jan Gorniak. “Additional microscopic examinations beneath the heart tissue revealed this cause of death, and at this time we can conclude that Kirk’s death was completely natural.”
“This information helps to bring some sort of closure to the sudden and tragic loss of our teammate and friend,” Crew President and General Manager Mark McCullers said. “We continue to honor and remember Kirk as we battle through the rest of the season, and hold our fond memories of him close to help us persevere.”
