Tributes are pouring in after a young n student collapsed suddenly and died while teaching in the UK on a gap year.
Jack Ryan, 18, was working at the independent Dulwich Cranbrook school in Kent, south-east England, as part of the popular Letz Live gap year program when he collapsed in the bathroom of his on-site accommodation last week.
Friends and family remembered Mr Ryan as a ‘true gentleman who inspired so many’, as his devastated classmates launched a fundraiser to bring him home.
James Peters, who was Mr Ryan’s housemaster at his school in , described him as an ‘excellent cricketer’ and said he was ‘always keen to serve others’.
His cause of death is still unknown and his father, Peter, is flying to the UK to find out what happened.
At the time of his death, Mr Ryan was employed at Dulwich Cranbrook school, which takes in children aged two to 16. It charges up to £7,649 per term.
‘He was one of the loveliest kids we’ve had come through the school,’ Mr Peters told Daily Mail .
‘He arrived in year 11 and within three terms he had made the house his own.
‘He was voted in as the house vice-captain for MacArthur Waddy, which is pretty incredible in such a short space of time.’
‘He was always looking to serve his mates and go above and beyond in the boarding house.’
Mr Ryan’s mother, Kate, thanked those who had donated to the fundraiser and offered their family support.
‘We didn’t realise he had touched so many lives,’ she said.
Mr Ryan’s grandfather, James, described him as a ‘self-assured, honest, confident, loving, kind, loyal, caring man whom so many fortunate individuals came to call a mate’.
‘I came to realise that he had become the product of input from so many sources, loving parents, his brother and forebears, knowledge from Bolwarra Primary, H.V Grammar, Kings College and his Macarthur Waddy family coupled with his innate decency, talent, gregarious nature and spontaneity,’ he wrote in a moving online tribute.
Mr Ryan was an accomplished cricketer and rugby player who graduated from King’s School in Parramatta in Sydney’s west last year.
He had accepted a place at Newcastle University to study teaching following his gap year, but was also considering settling on the Sunshine Coast to be near his family and to start a trade.
His devastated school friends have set up a GoFundMe page to ‘bring him home’, which has so far raised more than $41,000 – around £21,000.
His classmates wrote: ‘On behalf of the boys of Macarthur Waddy, this is a fundraiser for a Kings old boy who has recently passed away.
‘Jack was a student at The Kings School who was loved by all, and we aim to assist his parents in bringing him back from overseas, where he was enjoying his time as a Gappie in the UK.’
Before boarding at King’s, Mr Ryan attended Hunter Valley Grammar School where he played rugby union for the Maitland Blacks and for the Northern Suburbs Cricket Club.
‘A true gentleman that inspired so many – on and off the field,’ the club said in a statement.
‘Jack will always be dearly missed by all that were privileged to have known him.’
Maitland Rugby Club added: ‘One of our family, gone too soon. We are deeply saddened that you are no longer with us but we are all better for you being part of our family.
‘On the park Jack shone but more importantly he was one of the best young men off it, always showing his class and being the quality human both his and our family will always be proud of.
‘We are sending all of our love to Kate, Peter & Tom.’
Mr Ryan’s former school, The King’s School in North Parramatta, said in a statement: ‘Over the weekend, the School received the tragic news of the unexpected passing of Jack Ryan (’23). Having graduated from King’s last year, Jack was working as a gap student in the UK.
‘Jack was a friendly and caring young man. He was a much loved and respected member of Macarthur Waddy, a Kingsman who enjoyed cricket and playing in the 1st XI, and spending time with his mates.
‘It is always a tragedy to lose a young life so full of promise, and we continue to keep Jack’s parents, Kate and Peter, brother Tommy and family and friends in our prayers.
‘The Macarthur Waddy community are gathering for their House Chapel Service this evening and will be praying for Jack’s family and friends at 6.30pm in the Memorial Chapel.’
A spokesperson for Letz Live said the company was ‘devastated to hear of the loss of Jack Ryan, who tragically passed away whilst in the UK’.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack’s family and friends during this difficult time and we are providing support to those affected by this tragedy,’ the spokespersona dded.
‘In order to afford the family their privacy, no further statement will be made at this time.’
Daily Mail approached Cranbrook Dulwich school and the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.