ALS 'ice bucket challenge' co-founder Corey Griffin, 27, dies in diving accident

Corey Griffin, the co-founder of the 'ice bucket challenge', an Internet sensation aimed at raising funds for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has died after drowning in a diving accident.  -- PHOTO: TWITTER
Corey Griffin, the co-founder of the 'ice bucket challenge', an Internet sensation aimed at raising funds for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has died after drowning in a diving accident.  -- PHOTO: TWITTER

The co-founder of the 'ice bucket challenge', an Internet sensation aimed at raising funds for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has died after drowning in a diving accident.

Reports said Corey Griffin, 27, died at 3am on Aug 16 at Nantucket Cottage Hospital in Massachusetts, after jumping from the roof of a two-storey building into Nantucket Harbour.

He suffered two crushed vertebrae in the accident, a family spokesman told Bloomberg.

Before his death, Griffin had attended a charity event on Nantucket Island on Aug 15, where he helped raise US$100,000 (S$125,000) in donations in honour of his friend Pete Frates, whose struggle with ALS inspired the campaign involving dumping buckets of ice water over the heads of famous athletes and celebrities.

Griffin played a key role behind the viral campaign, which has seen celebrities from Justin Beiber to Simon Cowell take part.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.