Melbourne Grammar School student Ed Millear dies after collapsing at rowing training

The family of a Melbourne Grammar year 12 student who died after collapsing at rowing training has remembered their son and brother as a “loving boy” who “adored school”, as the elite school reels from the shock death.

Melbourne Grammar student Ed Millear died after collapsing during training.

The family of a Melbourne Grammar School year 12 student who died after collapsing at rowing training has remembered their son and brother as a “loving boy” who “adored school”.

The Melbourne Grammar community is in mourning after the shock death of Ed Millear who collapsed at the elite school’s boat shed on the Yarra River in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon.

The Herald Sun understands the 17-year-old had finished a training session on a rowing machine just prior to his collapse.

He was rushed to the Alfred Hospital but passed away surrounded by his parents, grandmother, uncle, aunt and cousins at 3am Wednesday.

Ed passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning surrounded by family. Picture: Supplied

Ed Millear with his rowing team. Picture: Supplied

Family, friends and the Melbourne Grammar community have been left devastated by Ed’s sudden passing.

He is being mourned by his mother, Dimity, father Spencer, and siblings Simon and Eleanor.

“Ed was a loving boy, loved by his family and friends, adored school and loved rowing,” his family said in a statement to the Herald Sun.

The family expressed their gratitude to the paramedics who worked to revive Ed at the boat shed.

An email sent out by Melbourne Grammar headmaster Philip Grutzner on Wednesday morning confirmed the tragedy and outlined how the school was supporting devastated classmates.

“At rowing training yesterday a year 12 student unexpectedly collapsed at our boat house on the Yarra River,” it said.

“He was treated immediately with first aid on-site with paramedics administering CPR soon after.

“He was then transported to The Alfred hospital where he received expert care from the medical staff.

“It is with great sadness that I regret to inform you that he died at 3am this morning.

“We will continue to provide supports to the family and the rest of the school community who are affected at this time.”

A floral tribute is placed at the Melbourne Grammar boat shed in honour of Ed. Picture: Supplied

The Melbourne Grammar community is in shock after the sudden death: Supplied

Several visibly upset senior students were being consoled by adults outside the school grounds on Wednesday morning.

A close friend of the Millear family told the Herald Sun the family had strong ties to the school’s rowing program.

“A house is named after his grandfather … many generations (of the family) at the school,” the friend said.

A floral tribute was placed at the front of the Melbourne Grammar boatshed on Wednesday afternoon, with the school flag also dropped to half mast in the wake of Ed’s passing.

A touching note left at the shed reads: “To Eddy, we miss you already, rest easy”.

Another mourner has paid tribute to the young rower Wednesday afternoon, laying a bunch of flowers at the school’s river side boatshed.

While the Melbourne Grammar Boat Shed remained closed on Wednesday, other schools continued with their training.

St Catherine’s and Brighton Grammar School have joined Melbourne Grammar in lowering their flag to half mast in honour of the teenager.

Those close to the young rower told the Herald Sun Ed was known as a great, “boisterous” young man.

Students’ welfare the ‘highest priority’

Melbourne Grammar headmaster Philip Grutzner released a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying Ed was a valuable and popular member of the school who had already set his sights on his future.

“In relation to his studies, he was hardworking and diligent,” he said. “He aspired to a career in the commerce sector in the future.

“He was a keen rugby player playing in the First XV last year, and a valued member of the Second XIII rowing crew.

“He commenced at Melbourne Grammar in year 7 in 2020. His family has had a long connection to the school, with his great great great grandfather graduating from Melbourne Grammar in 1884, and subsequent generations through to the current day in later years.”

Mr Grutzner said the school would now turn their attention to Ed’s classmates as they come to terms with his sudden death.

“As is always the case, the welfare of our students is our highest priority,” he said.

“We recognise that each may respond to this tragic news in different ways. The school has a strong pastoral care program and we are drawing on all our expertise to ensure that each student is cared for and supported as they come to terms with the loss of their friend.

“The school will continue to provide support to the student’s family over the days and months to come. I am proud to be part of a school community so permeated with consideration for others.

“I have great confidence that our broader school community will support each other during this challenging time.”

Paramedics at the boat shed on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Supplied

The boatshed was closed on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

Rowing community in shock

The wider rowing community was continuing to come to grips with the shocking loss of Ed on Wednesday evening.

Speaking with the Herald Sun, Rowing School Victoria founder Sue Chapman-Popa said she was devastated for the kids and coaches who witnessed the incident.

“You think of those young kids ... this is going to be a core memory for them,” Ms Chapman-Popa said.

“It’s going to affect them for a long time, it’s going to affect the whole community for a long time.”

With decades of rowing experience herself, having represented Australia at the Olympics and several World Championships, Ms Chapman-Popa said she feels for the Millear family who would be in terrible shock.

“It’s just devastating … it’s not normal that these things happen,” she added.

It is understood Ed, and his crewmates, were completing a 2000m erg test before he collapsed on Tuesday afternoon.

The gruelling testing is common practice for all rowing athletes, from school-age through to those in senior programs.

The boatshed remains closed following the incident on Tuesday afternoon.

A member of Melbourne Grammar’s second eight, Ed had recently competed in Nagambie in the state’s north and was set to race at the prestigious Australian Henley Regatta hosted on the Yarra River this weekend.

Students from other schools who were training at the time of the incident were kept away from the rear of the shed where Ed received medical treatment.

The MGS rowing program is seen as one of the best in the country, having produced 20 Olympians since 1905.

Jack Robertson, Fergus Hamilton, Timothy Masters and Jessica Morrison were all MGS alumni who took part in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Originally published as Melbourne Grammar School student Ed Millear dies after collapsing at rowing training