Dr. Samantha Ramsay, a professor at the University of Idaho, has been killed after being struck by lightning while she climbing the Swiss Alps.
Ramsay, a 41-year-old an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Idaho, was climbing the Matterhorn portion of the Alps on Sunday, July 30, when she was hit and killed by a lightning strike.
This comes a year after her husband, former MLB pitcher Rob Ramsay, died from brain cancer. The Ramsay’s left behind two children, their sons Reidar, 9, and Ryan, 12.
Faculty and staff at the University of Idaho began mourning one of their own Monday when it was announced Samantha Ramsay, an assistant professor of nutrition at the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences, died Sunday after being struck by lightning while climbing the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps.
Ramsay’s husband, former professional baseball player Rob Ramsay, who was a relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners in 1999-2000 and played his collegiate career at Washington State University, died Aug. 4, 2016, after a yearslong battle with brain cancer.
University of Idaho President Chuck Staben released a statement on Ramsay, who had taught at the University since 2010:
It is with great sadness that we inform the Vandal community about the death of Samantha Ramsay, a faculty member in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.
Samantha received her doctorate from UI in 2010, and was an associate professor of nutrition in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences. She died over the weekend in an accident in Switzerland. We join the entire Vandal family in mourning the loss of a talented professor, respected colleague and caring member of the UI community.
More information will be shared with the UI community as it becomes available.
According to the report from the Daily Mail, Ramsay, who taught at the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences, was with another unidentified experienced climber when they were caught off-guard by a thunderstorm.
After Ramsay was struck, both climbers were sent tumbling down the hill, eventually being stopped their safety harnesses.
The unnamed climber, who has badly injured himself, contacted emergency services in his home country. That emergency service then contacted mountain rescue services, who retrieved Ramsay and her friend.
Ramsay was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital. The unidentified second climber has been listed as being in critical condition.
