WARRENSBURG, Mo. — An Independence man was looking forward to graduating from the University of Central Missouri next week, but now friends and family are grieving his tragic death. Dylan Austin, 26, was a graduate student who loved skateboarding, cycling and anything that happened outdoors. A skateboarding accident claimed his life.
“Dylan Austin was a wonderful guy and words can’t even express how saddened I am right now,” said Nicole Cahill.
“Dylan was the quirkiest, funniest, just a happy-go-lucky guy,” said Darius Schnieders.
Those two are among many graduate students now mourning and missing Austin. Friends say they last saw him in class at UCM last Friday.
“He was just his typical funny self. His big smile lit up any room and his jokes kept us all laughing, ” said Cahill, who held back tears during an interview Tuesday with FOX 4’s Robert Townsend.
Friends say Austin was a fixture at UCM’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center off McGuire Street. He taught cardiac and aerobic classes at the center and was a popular face at the fitness center.
The graduate student in the kinesiology-exercise science program, was ecstatic about graduating next week and then starting his dream job in the cardiac rehab center at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.
“He was just so excited after his internship and getting a chance to show and share his passion of always willing to help others,” added Cahill.
“I have six graduate students here in this facility, and they’re all the age of my kids and as far as I’m concerned, you know, it’s like losing one of your own,” said Beth Rutt, the director of the university’s student and recreation center.
Austin’s dreams suddenly ended just after two on Saturday morning. Police say the Independence man was riding his skateboard down a long hill on North College Street when he lost control, hit his head on a concrete curb and died instantly.
Seeing their friend die so tragically just two weeks before graduating and celebrating with his mom, his grandmother, sister and other relatives is extremely hard for everyone who knew Austin, the dreamer, the helper, the jokester.
“It really is very, very sad and a tough loss, ” said Cahill.
“You never really know how much someone means to you and how much you love them until after they’re gone,” said Schnieders.
Services are scheduled at Carson-Speaks Chapel in Independence on Friday, May 1. There is visitation at 5 p.m. followed by the funeral at 7 p.m. A memorial service at the university is scheduled for Monday, May 4 at the recreation center.