by Mac Trammell
A Virginal Military Institute cadet collapsed Monday afternoon during a routine run and died shortly thereafter.
Sean Duc Hoang, 18, was running with a group of cadets on Saunders Road when he fell without warning. EMTs arrived on the scene, and took Hoang to Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly before 6 p.m.
There is no known cause of death yet, said Col. Stewart MacInnis, VMI director of communications and marketing. The school hopes to know what happened in the next couple of days after the state medical examiner’s office in Roanoke releases its report, he said.
The school was unaware of any pre-existing medical condition Hoang may have had, MacInnis said. As part of VMI’s admissions process, applicants must submit a thorough examination by a family doctor. There was no indication from Hoang’s physician that he had any problems, MacInnis said.
Hoang was participating in a normal ROTC training exercise when he fell. There was nothing particularly strenuous about the run. It was the standard route that first-year cadets—or “fourth-class” as they are called at VMI—run every year.
VMI cadets held a spontaneous ceremony Monday evening for Hoang, who was from Fairfax, Va. The cadets all came out in uniform at taps to pay respect to their fellow student. MacInnis said that cadets have held multiple spontaneous ceremonies since Monday. VMI hasn’t held a formal memorial service yet. The university will not hold anything official without the consent of Hoang’s family, MacInnis said.
A graveside funeral service will be held Sunday at the National Funeral Home in Falls Church, Va. The service will begin at 11 a.m. Visitations will be Saturday from 3-8 p.m. and again Sunday morning from 8-11 a.m.
Sean is survived by his father, Brian, and his mother, Van, as well as his brother, Ethan, and his sister, Pauline.