Chauncey Hardy, an American basketball player has died in hospital on Sunday evening after he had been beaten in a dance club from Giurgiu, Romania.

Former Sacred Heart guard Chauncey Hardy died yesterday after suffering two heart attacks following the beating on Saturday night.

Chauncey Hardy, 23, had severe head injuries and was in a coma when he was admitted to the hospital.

Chauncey Hardy died shortly after undergoing surgery in a Bucharest hospital.

After a victory against Dinamo Bucharest, Chauncey Hardy, who played for CSS Giurgiu in southern Romania, was celebrating with a few of his teammates in a night club, when several men were reported to have attacked him.

Former Sacred Heart guard Chauncey Hardy died yesterday after suffering two heart attacks following the beating on Saturday night

At some point, around 4:00 a.m., some unknown men attacked Chauncey Hardy. It seems that they have been quarreling for a while. Chauncey Hardy fell and hit his head and he was taken to the hospital, where doctors decided he must go into surgery.

At around 8 o’clock in the evening, Chauncey Hardy died on the hospital’s bed.

Romanian police announced that it has started an investigation on Chauncey Hardy’s death.

Sacred Heart Athletic Director C. Donald Cook said in a statement:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a fine young man who had his life cut short at such a young age while he was overseas doing something he loved.”

“This is a terrible tragedy and we are saddened as a University and a basketball program,” Sacred Heart men’s basketball coach Dave Bike said in a statement.

“This is not just about a basketball player, but the person as well. It transcends what happens on a basketball court. We feel tremendous sadness and loss for Chauncey’s family and those who were close to him.”

Chauncey Hardy averaged 12.5 points for Sacred Heart in 2009-10.