A Perth orthopedic student who died after a fall from a chair in the Australian city of Perth was suffering from a rare, incurable bone disease, the family of his roommate said on Sunday.
The Australian Orthopaedic Society of North America said Ian Raine, 23 of Melbourne, died after his body was discovered at his apartment in Perth on Sunday afternoon.
Raine, a member of the WA-based WA Orthopedic Society, was a member for two years, its president, Mark Jardine, told The Associated Press.
He graduated in 2016.
The WA Orthopractic Society said Raine suffered a severe spinal fracture and was in a stable condition in hospital.
Rice University, where he studied, said Rice University in Houston, Texas, is offering counseling to its students about Raine’s death.
“I can’t speak for the rest of our faculty, but our thoughts are with his family and friends,” Rice University spokeswoman Amanda Hargrove said.
“I don’t know how many people that have experienced the tragedy have come forward with information and we’re thankful to them.”
“We are very saddened to learn of this loss, and I’m heartbroken for his loved ones and his colleagues who knew him so well,” Hargrave said.
Rieke, who lived in Australia, had been studying orthopedism at the university.
The AP reported that the student had been in Perth for a year on a fellowship and had attended the University of Western Australia.
He was an American citizen.
The family of Raine released a statement saying he was an outstanding student and was an enthusiastic member of his team.
The Associated Press previously reported on the death of Rieke’s roommate, 22-year-old student Kaitlyn Deane, who fell from a hotel balcony last month.
Deane had been on a yearlong fellowship at Rice University and had been looking forward to graduating, according to her family.
Deane and Rieoke had been roommates since the fall of 2016, and Deane was found at her apartment in the city on Saturday.
The Associated Journal reported that Deane died from injuries sustained when she fell.
The news of the death came as the Associated Press reported that Riekelle and Deana were working together to raise money for the families of two others killed by falling debris in Oklahoma in November.
