News filtered throughout the Humboldt State football program and the entire Athletics Department on Wednesday regarding the tragic death of Lumberjack student-athlete Kenny Edwards, who died in an accident on Christmas Day.
Edwards was a junior transfer who was well-liked by teammates and HSU staff and faculty, within and outside of the Athletics Department. The defensive back played a key role in HSU's successful 2006 football season, and also served as a student-intern on the PEP and BSS building projects on campus.
An Associated Press story of Edwards' tragic accident reported the following:
"A 23-year-old man drowned Monday while trying to retrieve his little brother's remote-controlled boat from a man-made lake in West Sacramento.
Kenneth Edwards tried to swim out to the toy boat - a Christmas present his 10-year-old brother was testing out - after it stalled about 40 feet offshore, said Lt. David Farmer of the West Sacramento Police Department.
Witnesses said Edwards reached the boat, went under the water, resurfaced once and then went under again, according to Farmer.
Police believe Edwards may have been overcome by the cold water, which was about 50 degrees. Divers recovered his body after he had been in the lake for more than an hour. He was evacuated by helicopter to the UC Davis Medical Center but was pronounced dead less than 40 minutes later."