News

Harvard College sophomore dies after falling from building

Housemaster says that the death ‘was not an accident’

Andrew Sun, a Harvard College sophomore, died 4 a.m. Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital after falling from a building in downtown Boston the day before, The Crimson reported in an online article that morning.

The fall took place just around midnight Sunday morning, according to a Boston.com article, which also reported that Sun fell seven stories off of a building at 240 Atlantic Ave. in Boston.

The building, located near the New England Aquarium, is nearly 4.5 miles from Sun’s dormitory in Cambridge and is more than seven stories tall, housing several eateries, investment firms, and other businesses.

Sun was working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, according to his LinkedIn profile, which lists science, economics, and basketball among his interests. His profile also lists him as a member of Harvard College Faith and Action, a student group, and captain of his intramural basketball team.

What brought Sun to the top of the building is unclear.

“Very sadly, from all we understand at this point, this was not an accident,” Anne Harrington, co-housemaster of Sun’s dormitory, told The Crimson. “We are all grieving today.”

Sun died after being put on life support Sunday afternoon, having undergone surgery that morning, according to an email The Crimson said was sent to house tutors in Sun’s dormitory. “Andrew’s doctors said his injuries are too severe for him to recover,” the email read in part, noting that he “likely only has a matter of hours left.”

Sun was surrounded by family members at the time of his death: his father, mother, and aunt were all present, The Crimson reported.

Harrington also visited Sun in the hospital, telling The Crimson that “people kept coming and coming” while she was there. “I was so moved and proud by the maturity they shared in their grief.”

Harvard College Faith in Action held a prayer and worship event open to all members of the Harvard community, The Crimson reported. President of that group Shaun Y.S. Lim told The Crimson the event was “really powerful,” adding that it’s a “tough time for the community.”