PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A Boston College rower died after passing out at the finish line just as his crew won the men’s lightweight eight at the Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuykill River on Saturday, officials said.

Scott Laio, accompanied by his parents, was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he died, according to Boston College sports information director Chris Cameron. College spokesman Jack Dunn said Laio apparently suffered a heart attack.

Laio, a junior from Pittsford, N.Y., was rowing in seventh position, second from the back. He collapsed at about 4 p.m. as the boat was under a large stone bridge just past the packed grandstand.

Teammate Ned Borgman began performing CPR on Laio in the boat until emergency medical technicians took over and treated him with a defibrillator.

The National Weather Service listed a high of 80 degrees in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.

In high school, Laio started rowing with a club program called Pittsford Crew. His mother and father are on the board of directors and a younger brother currently competes with the team.

Dick Yochum, who coached Laio, said Saturday that he recognized his ability right away.

Yochum said rowing played a major role in the life of Laio.

, who taught beginning rowers during his summer breaks.

“One of the reasons he chose Boston College was the opportunities he perceived he would have to be with a good team and do well,” Yochum said.

“He was the happiest kid on the team. All the time. No matter what,” Boston College teammate Leszek Ward said.

The Dad Vail Regatta, billed as the largest collegiate regatta in the United States, annually draws thousands of student-athletes from more than 100 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

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