MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A local teenager suffered cardiac arrest while playing frisbee with family members earlier this month and he subsequently passed away from the medical emergency.
Owen Cotty, a 16-year-old junior who attended Methacton High School in Worcester Township, died on Aug. 6 while he was playing frisbee with his father and uncle, according to family members.
CPR was administered and first responders got to the scene quickly, but they were unable to resuscitate Cotty, and he ended up dying at the scene.
“His sudden and unexpected passing has left a gigantic hole in our hearts,” the family wrote in a GoFundMe description. “It is our goal to see his mission of programming and service continue through this scholarship.”
The fundraiser — which as of the time of the publication of this story had raised close to $21,000, more than the $10,000 stated goal — is designed to help the family establish a scholarship fund in Cotty’s memory.
The money will be used to help students who have a passion for programming and volunteer work, the family stated.
“Owen was a caring and playful 16 year old who was quick to make others smile,” the family wrote in the fundraiser description. “In addition to entertaining his friends and family he loved to volunteer to help others through Boy Scouts. He was also an avid programmer, making games and mods for us to use as he was intent on becoming a video game designer.”
Cotty also enjoyed collecting food for Philabundance, which would be donated to the less fortunate.
Cotty passed away on Aug. 6 but a celebration of life has been scheduled for Saturday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Mill Grove, located at 1201 Pawlings Road in Audubon.
Services are scheduled to begin a little after 11 a.m.
Two days after Cotty’s passing, Methacton School District Superintendent David Zerbe sent a letter to families announcing the death, saying that the district would have a crisis intervention team made up of various professionals available to help local students with grief in light of the news.
“I am sharing this information with parents/guardians of all students in the district so that you can best determine how to relay this information to your children since this loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school community,” Zerbe wrote in the letter.
According to his obituary, Cotty, who was born in Voorhees, N.J., is survived by his parents, Adam and Tamala Cotty, his sister, Felicity, and extended family members and friends.
