Charlotte FC defender Anton  Walkes dies at age 25

Charlotte FC defender Anton Walkes died early Thursday from injuries he suffered in a boat crash off the coast of Miami. He was 25. Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-de660087-6e3c-4143-b020-21965ab508ff [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fea8a84-4465-4fee-a619-70c6ef322eaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9eeb5032-2f7c-4be2-9f52-bc6eec86a980","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.92703%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Walkes was found unconscious and taken to a hospital after the crash between two boats Wednesday near the Miami Marine Stadium basin Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-a8696a5d-0bc6-4e85-a593-cea4f29ba883","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74a9c4bb-b413-42de-9705-8381bf9a2ec7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 320.29636%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34ee6968-1ead-4f1a-b2f6-3738708457f9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Walkes was operating one of the boats that crashed, the state agency said in a statement. Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-6b0fe677-dfc5-42a4-9c36-df7845a1c33b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfecca79-0f99-448f-9f06-6efd2a74da9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5f3dc05-e5c7-4d34-a5b7-48ff4a99f253","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 186.73297%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It was unclear whether anyone else was injured. The agency's investigation is ongoing. Charlotte FC confirmed his death Thursday morning. Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-e0620798-cf79-4945-b532-a33f8cee4911 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.872448766439222%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e92f8525-b86b-4e6a-9e46-dc7f0be7e2f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf8c067c-4f05-467e-a8ca-5ada3dc23ff5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.41752%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] We are deeply saddened to share that Anton Walkes has tragically passed away this morning," the club said in a statement. "May he rest in peace." Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-309009b4-96b6-4ff8-ac33-54e23234b812 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f679d61d-abae-4b14-8eda-f998e7bfdff2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad15cea3-3f4c-44d6-9646-a0e497b5582b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.92669%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Charlotte FC owner David Tepper said all at the club were "devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes." Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-661ebb2a-ee7d-4ada-8484-e2fb21321862 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a9c639ee-0098-47a5-bd24-6ee56cc743d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b421350-09e5-44e3-81ec-003bc78c5104","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.18774%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] He was a tremendous son, father, partner and teammate whose joyous approach to life touched everyone he met," Tepper said in the club's statement. Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-70e85613-9a13-491e-ab7b-f451c8c2da32 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b91da3be-223a-4d75-b6f8-ff04e930ede7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8f5263d-5a11-435f-b123-085adef20636","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.59865%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Walkes joined Charlotte for the club's debut MLS season in 2022. He played in 23 matches with 21 starts and had five shots on goal this past season. Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-b503354d-ad5a-47d0-b774-0f0949535665 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2129ff00-7050-4751-b7de-96c78dfc80d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ffe08fe-bf82-48fe-b3c3-52ca463b646d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 138.02623%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Anton made those around him better people in all areas of life and represented Charlotte FC to the highest standard both on and off the pitch," Tepper said. Credits: Getty Images

[{"selector":"#anim-75ee774c-9c13-4507-bf41-1d466aa87caa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.872448766439222%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b358a072-f366-47f1-8e90-16da8afc5259","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c8e77c3-46c6-4e08-986d-b21c89eed6e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.92669%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Fly high my brother, you're the best teammate I could've asked for," Lindsey tweeted. "Love you man." Credits: Getty Images