Former Miami Hurricanes Player Died of Heart Attack at Age 24, Examiner Reveals
Sam Bruce, a former University of Miami Hurricanes wide receiver, died at age 24 due to a heart attack he suffered in April, according to a medical examiner’s report.
The report, released by the Broward County Medical Examiner and obtained by TMZ Sports, revealed Bruce’s cause of death was myocardial infarction, with the contributing factor to his death being coronary heart disease—the most common form of heart disease in the United States.
According to the medical examiner, Bruce died of “natural causes.”
On April 28, Bruce experienced a seizure while driving his car in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, leading the 24-year-old to crash his vehicle into a pole.
A spokesperson for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department told TMZ at the time that medics performed CPR on the football star and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he died the next morning.
After news broke of Bruce’s death, South Florida Express and Florida high school St. Thomas Aquinas paid tribute to him.
“R.I.P. Sam Bruce! We Will Miss You and We Love You!” the St. Thomas Aquinas team wrote in a statement on Facebook, adding two pictures of the football player during his time with St. Thomas Aquinas.
The South Florida Express (SFE), Bruce’s high school 7-on-7 team, also offered condolences to the sports legend in a post on Twitter.
“We are saddened to hear about the loss of one of the greatest players to ever come through SFE,” the team wrote.
“Your infectious energy, and the ability to make anybody laugh will forever live in our hearts,” they added. “We spoke with Sam’s family, they just ask you to pray for their family during this time.”
We are saddened to hear about the loss of one of the greatest players to ever come through SFE. Your infectious energy, and the ability to make anybody laugh will forever live in our hearts. We spoke with Sams family, they just ask you to pray for their family during this time ???? pic.twitter.com/iqZeWRoJov
— SFE (@SouthFLExpress) April 28, 2022
Bruce had become a famous football player during his time at St. Thomas Aquinas, where he lit up the field so often he earned himself a nickname, “The Samborghini,” TMZ reported.
Before eventually signing with the Miami Hurricanes in 2016, he earned a four-star rating and received dozens of scholarship offers. However, he was dismissed from the Miami Hurricanes after violating several team rules that include missing the team bus on a game day.
Bruce went on to enroll at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. and Southeastern University after leaving the University of Miami.
