NBA Star and Activist Manute Bol Dies at 47
Manute Bol
Manute Bol, a former professional basketball star and humanitarian has died, according to The Washington Post. He was 47.
Bol died Saturday at the University of Virginia Medical Center after suffering internal bleeding and other complications from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a rare skin disease, his cousin, George Bol, told the Post. He had suffered kidney failure on his way back to the U.S. from his native Sudan on May 12, according to a message written on his Facebook page.
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Standing at 7 feet, 7 inches tall, Bol remains the second-tallest player in National Basketball Association history. During his ten years in the NBA, he played with the Washington Bullets, the Golden State Warriors, the Phildelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat.
Following his retirement from basketball, Bol became an activist focused on improving the lives of other Sudan natives. He tried to promote peace in the war-torn nation through both frequent visits to local refugee camps and the creation of the Sundan Sunrise foundation.