Ice Bucket Challenge Pioneer Dies at 27 in a Diving Accident

Corey Griffin, one of the original pioneers of the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge movement, has died at 27 following a diving accident.

The philanthropist was in Nantucket Island on Friday evening for an ALS fundraiser, where he helped raise $100,000 for the cause. Hours later at around 2am, he dove into the water from the top of a building, but a horrible accident occurred. Corey “floated to the surface, then he sank. He did not come up again,” according to the Boston Globe. An off-duty lifeguard happened to be nearby and recovered his body from the bottom of the harbor.

Corey was close friends with Pete Frates, whose struggle with ALS was the launchpad for the Ice Bucket Challenge. He made it his mission to fight for the cause.

“He was the happiest guy in the world,” Corey‘s father, Robert Griffin, said. “He called me last night and told me he was in paradise.”

We send out our thoughts and condolences to Corey‘s family during this difficult time.