CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A student at the University of Miami has died on campus after jumping from a stairwell.
The school released a statement Wednesday morning saying that Estefano Aime was killed after an "apparent accident." The announcement came after the Office of Student Affairs tweeted that police were responding to a medical emergency at the School of Communication.
According to Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Robin Pinkard, Aime was dropped off at campus at about midnight by a shuttle coming from a university event in Brickell. Pinkard said Aime and a woman went to the fifth floor of the communications building and Aime tried to jump from one side of the stairwell to the other, but did not make it.
The woman called 911 and Aime was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"It's unbelievable to see someone that was so happy, so full of life...he just loved everyone, everything," Aime's friend Lauren Patao said.
"It's terrible news. I didn't personally know the student, but thoughts always go out in times like this for the families and everything, and definitely keep them in (my) thoughts and prayers," UM student Charley Short said.
According to the school, Aime was a senior from Miami in the School of Business and majoring in entrepreneurship. The school said he worked at the Ratskeller restaurant on campus.
UM President Julio Frenk took to Twitter after the announcement saying, "Our University of Miami community is in mourning today for a bright & promising senior majoring in Business, Estefano Aime, who passed away following an apparent accident on campus overnight."
Frenk said Aime was on the Dean's list and had studied aboard in Rome last spring.
"Raised in Miami, he loved kite boarding & was involved in the UM kiteboarding club," Frenk said. "This is a tragic loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."
Aime previously attended Palmer Trinity School, where he graduated from in 2012.
"Stefano's death is devastating to his family, his many friends, and the entire Palmer Trinity community. Our hearts are heavy as we try to come to terms with this tremendous loss," Head of School, Patrick Roberts, said.