Listen to 911 call that brought paramedics to KU frat, preceded investigation
The call came in about 11:10 p.m. on Aug. 18.
“Douglas County 911, is this a police, fire or medical emergency?”
“I’m at 1301 West Campus Road, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. One of the guys in my house was laying down downstairs and then just passed out. I am AED certified and I am CPR certified.”
“OK. Is he unconscious right now?”
“He is unconscious, and I tried to shake him and he won’t wake up.”
“Are you with the patient right now?”
“I am with the patient right now. I am with multiple of our members … I don’t know his age. I think he’s 19 or 20 years of age.”
The urgent call from the fraternity basement on the first day of fall semester classes at the University of Kansas ended with paramedics arriving at the house to “provide advanced life support” and rush the student to the hospital.
In the recording of the 8 minute, 39 second 911 call, the call-taker asked the person on the phone, who identified himself as Aidan, whether the unconscious student was breathing.
Details of 911 call at SAE
“He’s still breathing, and — check his pulse — he still has a pulse.”
“Is his breathing completely normal?”
“It seems like his breathing is slow.”
“Do you think he’s taken any drugs or alcohol?” the call-taker asked.
Someone else in the room said something inaudible before Aidan replied.
“Yeah, uh, today he went to urgent care and he got antibiotics for his eye,” he said.
Two-and-a-half minutes into the call, the conversation shifted back to rendering life support while the brothers waited for paramedics to arrive.
Another person in the room took over on the phone and agreed to let the call-taker know verbally each time the unconscious student’s chest rose.
SAE members were then directed to lay the student on his back and remove anything from underneath his head.
“OK. But he is drooling. Is that OK?”
Someone went to search for a defibrillator while the call-taker issued a string of instructions to prepare them to perform CPR.
“Is he laying down on a couch?”
“He’s laying on the hardwood floor.”
Then came word that they did not have a defibrillator in the house.
“OK, get your hands positioned. We need to start pumping his chest.”
The call-taker counted out loud with them to help keep the chest compressions at a steady pace.
“One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four … Slow down a little bit.”
Soon, audible groans could be heard on the recording.
“Ma’am, he’s groaning. Is that OK?”
“Is he fighting you at all?” the call-taker responded.
“No.”
“No. Then keep going. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.”
At 6 minutes and 50 seconds into the recording: “He’s gained consciousness!” Coughing could be heard in the background.
“Is that him coughing?”
“Oh, he’s coughing, yes. Very profusely.”
The call-taker told them to make sure the front door was unlocked because paramedics would be there soon.
“He’s coughing up, I would say a decent amount of mucus and/or vomit.”
“OK. So he is breathing now?”
“He is breathing. He is breathing.”
The call-taker said SAE members should try to keep him awake and make sure he was aware of his surroundings.
A chorus of voices in the room could then be heard repeating the student’s name and encouraging him to respond.
“You’re OK.”
“We have help on the way.”
“You gotta stay with me.”
Paramedics can be heard arriving. Before they do, the call-taker asks where in the house they’re located.
“We are in the basement, ma’am.”
At 8 minutes and 20 seconds into the recording:
“The medics are with him right now?”
“Yes, the paramedics are here.”
“All right. You guys did really great, OK? Just let the medics take it from here.”
“Of course. Thank you, ma’am. I really appreciate it.”
“Yes, of course. We’re here for you always.”
KU takes action against SAE
Seven days later, KU sent a letter to SAE’s student and national leaders to inform them of a university investigation into “alleged hazing that occurred this semester involving new members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.”
On Sept. 24, KU updated an online database to reflect that SAE had been issued a warning for “falsification,” defined as when “a student, applicant or former student intentionally and knowingly furnishes false or misleading information or records to the University, including the omission of relevant information or is in possession of forged, altered, misrepresentative documents, records, or instruments of identification.”
A warning, according to the site, is “notice in writing that continuation or repetition of conduct found wrongful, within a period of time stated in the warning, may be cause for more severe disciplinary action.” It is set to expire on Dec. 18, 2026.
SAE’s house mother said the student, whom The Star is not identifying out of respect for his privacy, is still a member of the fraternity.
The student did not respond to calls or text messages for this story. On behalf of the family, his father declined to comment.
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 3:38 PM.
