Aidan Kaminska, a 19-year-old lacrosse player from Long Island, died unexpectedly on May 31, 2023, while attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Kaminska was a sophomore communications major and a member of the Minutemen lacrosse team at UMass Amherst. He was named to the 2022 CAA All-Tournament team after scoring a hat trick in the team’s CAA Championship semifinal in Philadelphia earlier in May. He was also a member of the CAA All-Rookie team for the 2022 season.
The Mystery Surrounding Kaminska’s Death
The cause of Kaminska’s death has not been officially revealed by his family or the university. However, some sources have speculated that he may have suffered from a cardiac arrest or a heart attack, which are among the leading causes of sudden death in young athletes according to doms2cents. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating due to an electrical malfunction, while a heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked by a clot or plaque. Both conditions can result in death if not treated immediately.
Another possible cause of Kaminska’s death could be a drug overdose, as some sources have claimed that Kaminska died of drug overdose according to ABTC. However, these reports have not been confirmed by Kaminska’s alma mater, his family, or his friends. Drug overdose can occur when a person takes too much of a substance that affects the brain or body functions, such as opioids, stimulants, or depressants. Drug overdose can cause respiratory failure, coma, or death.
The Legacy of Kaminska
Kaminska was known for his infectious smile and his talent as a tremendous athlete according to his obituary. He loved to be goofy and make people laugh and had numerous friends and was an inspiration to many. He will sorely be missed by his family, friends, teammates, and coaches.
Kaminska’s mother, Lydia Johnston Kaminska, created an internet montage of video snippets of him playing lacrosse and titled it: “My beautiful son. Aidan. My heart is forever broken.” She also posted a collage of photos from her son’s early years on social media.
The Massachusetts athletics department extended condolences to Kaminska’s family, friends, teammates, and coaches in a statement. The Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade also expressed her sympathy and said: “We lost an amazing young man far too early in this life, and we send prayers of support and strength.”
The men’s lacrosse team, the Minutemen, honored Kaminska in a tweet that read: “We join UMassAthletics in mourning the loss of men’s lacrosse player Aidan Kaminska.” Hofstra lacrosse also paid tribute to Kaminska on its Twitter page and said: “We send our deepest condolences to the Kaminska family and the UMassMLacrosse community for the sudden loss of Aidan Kaminska.”
Services were scheduled for Kaminska in his native Long Island on June 4 and 5, 2023.
