Jack Dowd had a heart condition that couldn't be detected in a standard medical exam
HOLMDEL -- The family of the Holmdel High School lacrosse player who collapsed and died on Sunday during a scrimmage at Rutgers said the 16-year-old had a undetected genetic heart condition.
In a letter shared on the Holmdel High School lacrosse team's Facebook page, the family of Jack Dowd explained that he had a medical condition known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. The family was unaware of the condition before his death.
Dowd, a junior, collapsed during a scrimmage on Rutgers University's Busch Campus on Sunday afternoon and died a short time later at a local hospital. The medical examiner later determined Dowd's cause of death and informed the family.
The family said that although Dowd had yearly checkups the condition is not something that would show up on medical examinations. They added that the condition could have affected the junior at any time and wasn't directly related to playing lacrosse.
The letter went on to thank family, friends and members of the school and lacrosse communities who have supported them this week. A GoFundMe to help the Dowd family has raised more than $65,000 as of Thursday morning.
The loss of Dowd was made even more painful for the family because they were not at the field when Jack collapsed, the family wrote in the letter.
"He was on the field playing a sport he had grown to love, with teammates and friends he had come to admire and draw strength from," the letter said. "Right before he collapsed, he was laughing with these friends on the sidelines, with that smile that we all loved and adored. He never regained consciousness, he never started breathing again. But he left this world with a smile on his face, and we would like to remember him that way."
Dowd is survived by his parents Sean and Rosaline and his brother Casey, a 6th-grader. His father is a teacher at Holmdel High School.
"In the coming days, and weeks, and months we would like to continue to share our thoughts and our sincerest appreciation for the incredible support and love sent our way," the family wrote. "Please continue to keep Jack's spirit alive for us and with us. Be kind to one another, let go of the silly, unimportant things, and focus on making others happy, and this world a better place. That is how he will remain with us all."
Visitation for Dowd will be held Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Saint Catharine's Roman Catholic Church on Middletown Road in Holmdel. A funeral mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, according to tapinto.net. said.
About 1 in 5,000 people have arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, a condition in which heart muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and/or fibrous tissue. It weakens the heart's ability to pump blood, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.