Coroner: MLS player died of genetic heart defect

Published Sep. 21, 2012 9:25 p.m. ET

foxsports

An Ohio coroner says Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso died of a genetic defect of the heart and the death was considered natural.

The 22-year-old Urso was pronounced dead in August at Grant Medical Center after collapsing at a downtown Columbus bar and restaurant.

Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak said Friday that Urso died of arrhythmogenic (ah-RITH'-muh-jen-ihk) right ventricular cardiomyopathy (kar-dee-oh-meye-AH'-pa-thee).

Urso played in six games with the Crew and was rehabbing from a sports-groin injury sustained in May.

Crew President and General Manager Mark McCullers says the news helps bring closure to the sudden and tragic loss of Urso.