UPDATE: 23-Year-Old Former Arizona Collegiate Swimmer Cause of Death Revealed

23-year-old former University of Arizona swimmer Ty Wells passed away last week.

Former Collegiate Swimmer Dies Suddenly at 23

“On behalf of the entire University of Arizona community, I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Wells family along with Ty’s friends, teammates, classmates and colleagues,” University of Arizona Athletic Director Dave Heeke said in a press release.

“Ty was a tremendous young man who proudly represented the University of Arizona in the pool, classroom and community. He was a light that shined bright in the lives of everyone he came across, and we will keep him and his loved ones in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time,” he added.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of recent alum Ty Wells, who passed away on Friday,” Arizona Athletics tweeted.

“Our heartfelt condolences are with his family, his friends and the entire @ArizonaSwimDive family.”

We are deeply saddened by the loss of recent alum Ty Wells, who passed away on Friday.

Our heartfelt condolences are with his family, his friends and the entire @ArizonaSwimDive family. pic.twitter.com/ksUtynhXWy

— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) January 30, 2023

According to the University of Arizona athletics website, “Wells was a four-year member of the Arizona Swimming & Diving program from 2018 to 2022.”

Wells earned his bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences & Physiology in May of 2022.

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The Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office reported Wells' cause of death on Friday.

The medical examiner's office said Wells died of “natural causes secondary to a disseminated streptococcal bacterial infection following a protracted upper respiratory tract infection," Arizona Daily Star reports.

Former Arizona swimmer Ty Wells died of natural causes secondary to a bacterial infection, the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office reported Friday. https://t.co/hPuFj9872b

— Arizona Daily Star (@TucsonStar) February 4, 2023

From Arizona Daily Star:

Former Arizona swimmer Ty Wells died of natural causes secondary to a bacterial infection, the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office reported Friday.

The county released its report one week after Wells’ death, which was announced Monday by the UA.

Specifically, the medical examiner’s office determined that Wells’ death was due to “natural causes secondary to a disseminated streptococcal bacterial infection following a protracted upper respiratory tract infection.”

Strep throat is a common and treatable form of streptococcal bacterial infection, but other types can be more severe.

Wells, 23, competed for the Wildcats from 2018-22, specializing in the breaststroke, and was still listed on the swim team’s roster at the time of his death. Wells was from Manteca, California, and attended Ripon High School, where he set school records in the 100 fly, 100 breast, 50 free, 200 and 400 free relay and 200 medley relay. He earned bronze medals at CIF Sections in the 100 fly and 100 breast.

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