A former Ukrainian and Soviet Union National Rowing champion died while rowing in the Charles River in Boston Thursday afternoon. Nikolay Kurmakov, 68, was the head crew coach at Simmons College in Boston, with over 25 years at the Fenway campus.A Harvard crew coach who witnessed the incident said Kurmakov was rowing and appeared to collapse before his boat capsized.The coach said he swam out to the middle of the river to help rescue Kurmakov. Another person who was on a boat in the river also helped get Kurmakov back to shore. Kurmakov was taken by Boston EMS from the scene to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.A spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said Kurmakov suffered an apparent heart attack.
A former Ukrainian and Soviet Union National Rowing champion died while rowing in the Charles River in Boston Thursday afternoon.
Nikolay Kurmakov, 68, was the head crew coach at Simmons College in Boston, with over 25 years at the Fenway campus.
A Harvard crew coach who witnessed the incident said Kurmakov was rowing and appeared to collapse before his boat capsized.
The coach said he swam out to the middle of the river to help rescue Kurmakov. Another person who was on a boat in the river also helped get Kurmakov back to shore.
Kurmakov was taken by Boston EMS from the scene to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said Kurmakov suffered an apparent heart attack.
Read More: College rowing coach dies after being pulled from Charles River in Boston