It is with the deepest regret that we report the sudden passing of Richmond, B.C., Canada native Kory Nagata, former running back for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and the Okanagan Sun junior football team.
Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and teammates and the entire B.C. junior and university football communities.
Nagata died on Sunday. He was spending time with friends on a boat docked at a pier near the Pacific Gateway Hotel in Richmond, south of Vancouver, when he saw a football land in the water and jumped into the Fraser River to retrieve it. He reached the ball, but was unable to get back to the dock before being swept away. Two others jumped into the water to try and help Nagata, but were unable to save him.
Police found his body Monday. He was 24 years old.
— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) July 7, 2020
Nagata spent the 2016-2018 seasons playing for the Thunderbirds. Prior to that, he played two seasons for the Okanagan Sun of the B.C. Junior Football League, rushing for 402 yards and four touchdowns as a running back.
He studied at the Sauder School of Business at UBC and was named an Academic All-Canadian in the 2018-19 season.