‘Just be safe’: Family of SUU student who died from head injury remembers his life, encourage basic first aid skills

CEDAR CITY, UTAH (ABC4) — The family of a 19-year-old SUU student who died earlier this week spoke on his life and legacy, as well as the difficulty of their loss.

Micah LeFave, 19, was a student at Southern Utah University (SUU), and last week, he received a traumatic brain injury. Due to the extent of the injury, he was life-flighted to the St. George Regional Hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries.

On Sept. 7, 2025, Micah’s organs were donated, providing life-saving donations to five others. His family says that is exactly who Micah was.

Micah’s Legacy

“He had the biggest heart. He wasn’t afraid to show his emotions, to tell other people how much he loved them,” Jamin LeFave, Micah’s father, shared, “He was always looking for ways to be there for his friends and his families- and he gave the best hugs ever.”

Reportedly, Micah was also dedicated to everything he did. He was studying Civil Engineering at SUU and previously played Lacrosse. Jamin said, “He would be constantly asking his coaches, ‘What can I do to get better?’, ‘What can I do to improve?’ And he had the best work habit… He was always looking for ways to get better.”

Courtesy: LeFave Family

Some of Micah’s many hobbies were thrilling and meant to share his love of life with others, according to his family. He would regularly play sports, do parkour and cliff jumping, and lift weights with his family and friends.

Jamin told ABC4 about a challenge Micah had with his friend, in which whatever Micah did, his friend had to do. At one point, Micah did a flip at school, and his friend had to do so as well.

“He was always up for the challenge, and he was the type of friend that he would also challenge his friends to be better, you know. [He’d] be there to support them, but also just to encourage them to be the best versions of themselves,” his dad said.

Community Outreach

As difficult as Micah’s loss has been on his family, they also said that the community’s outpour has been amazing.

“I feel like, from what I’ve observed with the family, I mean, people that they don’t even know are showing up to support. Neighbors that I feel like they’ve barely talked to have shown up, and they’ve been offering [just] dinners, they’ve been writing notes,” his brother-in-law, Daniel Pikula, said.

Additionally, Micah’s family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs. Pikula says the family has been amazed at the contributions and support from others.

“It really just shows that I think everyone is feeling the loss of a son and a brother… It’s been really good that they just know that there’s all this support from the community,” Pikula expressed.

Another thing that has helped his family has been his friends and those who knew him sharing stories about his life and legacy. To them, making sure his legacy lives on has become their goal.

And, though his family says it may not have made a difference, Micah’s family is encouraging people to “just to be safe, just to take care of each other”, including by learning basic resuscitation like CPR and BLS.

“I think the loss of a child is just so fresh to them right now. And they just wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” Pikula said, “So just, everyone could be safe, and if they could learn some CPR, first aid, anything to just help someone who may be in a medical emergency.”

SUU Statement

Southern Utah University also released a statement following the accident. The statement reads:

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of an SUU student following a tragic accident last week. The heaviness of this loss is felt across our community, as it is always difficult to lose a member of our T-Bird family. Our hearts are with his loved ones and all who are grieving during this painful time.

We recognize that moments like this impact our entire campus community. SUU offers free counseling and support services to help students and employees navigate grief and emotional challenges. Students can connect with SUU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) by calling 435-865-8621 or through 24/7 support on TimelyCare. Employees also have access to free counseling through SUU’s Employee Mental Health Resources and TimelyCare.