A storm system that tore through the Southeast United States on Monday night and Tuesday morning killed more than 20 people, including a member of the swimming and diving team at the University of Alabama.
Junior John Servati was taking refuge with his girlfriend in the basement of a home in Birmingham, Ala., when a retention wall gave way. Servati was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa and was pronounced dead, according to ESPN.
“I understand that he was in a house off-campus and was hit by a retaining wall,” University of Alabama spokesman Shane Dorrill said. “I don’t know how it happened. I do know he was with his girlfriend and she is uninjured.”
Servati competed in freestyle and backstroke events for the Crimson Tide, which finished 12th at the NCAA championships in Austin, Texas, in late March.
The finance major was placed on the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll earlier in April.
Photo via Facebook/john.servati
