Sione Veikoso, an offensive lineman at BYU, has died at the age of 22 in a construction accident in Hawaii.
“On behalf of the entire BYU Football family, our thoughts and prayers are with Sione’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time,” BYU’s football program said in a tweet. “Rest in Love Sione. God be with you till we meet again.”
Added BYU head coach Kalani Sitake: “We are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of our brothers, Sione Veikoso. His passing is heartbreaking to all of us. We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family as we share in their grief. Our love for you is forever, Sione!”
Read Related Also: The Tragic Death Of TikTok Star Ali Spice
According to KITV, an ABC affiliate in Hawaii, Veikoso was part of a construction crew that was working on a 15-foot retaining wall. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find several people trapped under the wall, per the report. Two other men were treated for their injuries and are in serious but stable condition, per the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The cause of the wall’s collapse has not been disclosed.
Veikoso appeared in one game for BYU this season as a redshirt freshman; he had transferred from Arizona State before.
According to BYU’s tribute to Veikoso, he completed a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Brazil after graduating from high school in Hawaii.
“He was a gentle giant who loved his family. He was reliable and caring,” Veikoso’s cousin, Joshua Kava, told the Star-Advertiser.
