Avery Koonce was a standout athlete at her Texas high school, setting impressive records in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.
Her passion for running led her to the Air Force Academy, where she joined the women’s track and field team. Tragically, at just 19 years old, she can no longer experience the adrenaline and freedom that come with the sport she loved.
Her untimely death has left her family, friends, and the entire Air Force Academy community heartbroken.
On September 4, 2024, emergency first responders arrived to the dorm room of Air Force Academy freshman Avery Koonce in Colorado Springs.
What they encountered was nothing short of heartbreaking — 19-year-old Avery lay lifeless, and despite all efforts to revive her, it was too late. She was declared dead at the scene, with no visible signs of trauma to explain her tragic fate.
According to CBS News, it was fellow cadets who first had discovered Avery unconscious in her dormitory. An investigation was swiftly initiated to provide answers to her devastated family and friends.
Cause of death
The autopsy conducted by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office revealed a tragic truth. Avery had succumbed to complications from pneumonia.
The New York Post reported that the cause of death was ”paeniclostridium sordelli sepsis complicating parainfluenza laryngotracheobronchitis” — a serious bacterial infection that arose following a viral infection in her lungs.
According to Wikipeida, Paeniclostridium sordelli is a rare anaerobic bacterium known for causing a toxic shock-like syndrome.
Avery’s situation was further complicated by an acute viral lower respiratory tract infection, and according to People, the Air Force Academy freshman had been suffering from a severe cough in the days leading up to her passing.
Tragically, this heartbreaking loss may have been preventable. IBT spoke with forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, who stated that antibiotic treatment could have made a significant difference if her condition had been recognized earlier.
The bacteria responsible for the sepsis developed as a secondary infection, exploiting the weakness in her immune system caused by the viral infection.
Shocked everyone
The bacteria was found in her blood and her left lung.
”In essence, she died of untreated pneumonia,” Dr. Baden explained, noting that the combination of the viral lung infection and bacterial sepsis likely resulted in symptoms such as coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing prior to her death.
It appears that Avery may not have fully grasped the seriousness of her condition, leading to this tragic outcome.
Her untimely passing shocked everyone who knew her. Just beginning her freshman year at the Air Force Academy, she had recently graduated from Thrall High School in Texas. Described as a dedicated and ambitious student, Avery excelled in cheerleading, powerlifting, band, and cross country, maintaining impressive grades.
She had big dreams—majoring in biology with a minor in kinesiology, all with the goal of becoming a physical therapist for pilots.
On September 12, a memorial service was held in her honor at Tiger Stadium in Thrall. Nearly 100 of Avery’s classmates from the U.S. Air Force Academy made the journey from Colorado to Texas to pay their respects.
“We lost an incredible teammate,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Superintendent of the USAFA. He emphasized the deep impact Avery had on her squadron, the track team, and her class in the short time she was at the academy.
Avery’s family, heartbroken by her sudden passing, shared an emotional statement through the academy:
“Our daughter, Cadet Avery Koonce, was a brilliantly bright light in this broken world. Her absence has left an irreplaceable void in our lives.”
They continued:
“Avery was deeply loved by so many. We find peace knowing she is now in the arms of her Heavenly Father, and we hold onto the promise that we will be reunited one day. Avery wasn’t perfect—but to us, she was the perfect daughter. She loved her brothers fiercely, and now, our only focus is learning how to live in a world without her. We are forever grateful for the 19 amazing years we were blessed to call her ours. We pray for everyone carrying the heavy weight of her loss.”
Avery wasn’t just a leader in the classroom—she shined in sports as well. She was named Track Athlete of the Year, earned the Cross Country Leadership Award, and was recognized as the Outstanding Girls Lifter for powerlifting during her junior year.
“Junior year sports banquet ✅” she tweeted proudly, alongside a photo that now carries even more meaning.
@AveryKoonce – May 16, 2023
