Matthew Buriak, the Ledyard teen who collapsed during a football game on Saturday, was taken off life support today and died this afternoon at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, a hospital spokesman said.
Buriak's family has decided to donate the teen's organs, which will go to three people awaiting transplants, according to school officials and family friends in communication with the family.
He died at 2 p.m. today, said Christopher Boyle, a hospital spokesman. Boyle had no further information about what caused Buriak's death.
Buriak, 16, was a junior at Ledyard High School. An honor roll student and three-season athlete, Buriak was well-known in town and beloved by his classmates. He collapsed Saturday during a junior varsity football game at Fitch High School in Groton and has been hospitalized in critical condition since then.
From the game, Buriak was rushed to the William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich and on Sunday was transferred to Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Doctors do not believe his condition was the result of sports-related trauma, officials have said.
At Ledyard High today, students and teachers wore yellow ribbons emblazoned with Buriak's name or initials. Many wore green in honor of the Buriak family's Irish heritage. Students left notes on his locker and signed large banners hung in the school lobby, and more than 1,200 people have joined a Facebook group called Pray for Matt Buriak.
"A lot of kids here have been taking part in counseling, a lot more than yesterday," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Graner. "It's a somber day, a prayerful day here … But the teachers are here and they're teaching and the students are here and they're in class."
Buriak will be honored on Thursday at the annual Thanksgiving Day between Ledyard and Fitch, Graner said.
"I know they're going to say something to honor him at Thursday's game," Graner said. "And I expect that green thing that started today, that's really going to take off."
His wake is scheduled for Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry. The funeral will be held there on Saturday, with burial following at Avery-Stoddard Cemetery on Route 214. Times have not been finalized.
Because Our Lady of Lourdes holds about 300 people, funeral plans call for family and adults to sit inside. Because a large number of people, especially students from Ledyard High, are expected to attend, organizers are looking for someone who might be able to donate the use of a large tent for overflow viewing.
A scholarship fund in Buriak's memory is also in the works, but details have not been finalized.