Professional beach volleyball player Eric Zaun died on Thursday afternoon from an apparent suicide. He was 25.
Zaun died after jumping out of his Atlantic City hotel room, News 12 in New Jersey reported Thursday. The outlet reported that Zaun’s room was on the 29th floor the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa; People reported that police responded to the report of a man found dead in the hotel’s parking lot just after 5:30 p.m. EDT.
Atlantic City Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.
Originally from Cherry Hill, N.J., Zaun moved to California in 2017 to pursue his volleyball career. That year he was named rookie of the year by VolleyballMag.com and the Association of Volleyball Professionals. He previously received the National Volleyball League Breakthrough Athlete award in 2015, according to Volleyballmag.
“The AVP is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Eric Zaun,” the Association of Volleyball Professionals said in a statement posted to Twitter. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time. He will be missed.”
“This is a huge loss for the entire volleyball community,” USA Volleyball CEO Jamie Davis said in a statement. “Eric was a talented young beach player and stepped up this spring to play snow volleyball for the U.S. He will be missed.”