University of East Anglia Student’s Death at Gym Sparks Investigation

A student from the University of East Anglia (UEA) tragically died following an incident at the university’s Sportspark gym in Norwich. Emergency services responded to reports of a medical emergency at approximately 19:00 BST. Upon arrival, paramedics treated a man in his 20s, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Norfolk Police has announced that it is conducting a joint investigation into the incident with the Health and Safety Executive. Initial reports describe the death as “unexplained but not suspicious.” A police cordon has been established at the site, which remains closed as investigations continue.

A university spokesperson has confirmed the closure of the Sportspark gym and stated that support is being provided to staff. The spokesperson also indicated that “the gym will remain closed tomorrow,” and reassured that the university is focused on supporting their community during this tragic time.

Reactions among the student community have been marked by shock and grief. Molly Walker, a first-year medicine student, expressed her disbelief and sadness, stating, “It’s awful, they were so young and they clearly had a bright future coming here so it’s just tragic.” Neil Tosdevin, a university staff member, described the incident as “shocking” given the gym’s regular use by students.

Harry Darlington, 28, shared his concern, noting, “It’s really scary to realise someone has actually died at the gym. It’s really horrific.” Images from the scene showed numerous emergency service vehicles, including a forensics van.

The East of England Ambulance Service has been approached for further comments. Meanwhile, Nathan Wyatt, the welfare, community, and diversity officer at UEA, highlighted the incident’s impact on the tight-knit community, stating, “It’s horrible… when something like this happens everyone is hit really hard.” Wyatt ensured that support services are available for those affected.

The deceased student is believed to be from the Kurdish community and was studying medicine at the university. Fellow student Brandon noted, “Accidents like this aren’t uncommon but it is tragic that in this case, it has taken someone’s life.” The university asks for privacy for the grieving family and assures ongoing support for students during this difficult time.