Former participant in University of Michigan exchange program dies during Bank of America internship
A German university student who studied at the University of Michigan for a semester died while interning at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch London office.
Unconfirmed reports on social media suggested 21-year-old Moritz Erhardt worked through the night three consecutive times due to his demanding internship, according to a New York Times report.
The death is not being treated as suspicious, the Times reported.
“He was popular amongst his peers and was a highly diligent intern at our company with a promising future,” Bank of America said in its statement, according to the Times. “Our first thoughts are with his family and we send our condolences to them at this difficult time.”
Erhardt was finishing a degree in business administration at the Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany. During the Winter 2013 semester, he participated in an exchange program with the U-M Stephen M. Ross School of Business and studied in Ann Arbor.
Comments
incubo734
Mon, Aug 26, 2013 : 4:59 p.m.
Internships = free labor so the CEO can save money, give himself a bigger raise and buy a bigger yacht to drive to Mackinac this year
Sam S Smith
Thu, Aug 22, 2013 : 12:48 a.m.
Special thoughts and prayers for Mr. Erhardt, his family and friends!
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:55 p.m.
Poor kid. Was this a paid internship? Did he get any overtime for his efforts?
TryingToBeObjective
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 1:25 a.m.
The stress of lack of sleep can be a contributing factor in a death. Condolences to the family and friends on their loss. A lesson to those whose children and loved ones feel that being extremely driven is top priority in school and work. Not worth losing your life to get ahead. Take time to smell the roses. I hope the employer takes the time to reevaluate work conditions.
Wondering
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:12 p.m.
This is news because it used to be illegal for the more powerful to abuse the less powerful. Why is the assumption being made that it was Mr. Erhardt who was being greedy? And that he was working such crazy long hours "voluntarily"? It is also possible that Mr. Erhardt was simply doing what was made clear to him was essential to do in order to protect his professional reputation and all the years that he had invested in his education/career. Often if a person does not put in those long hours, their responsibilities are structured such that they will fail in very public, career-destroying ways. Such things happen at universities and in medical residencies and in large prestigious financial and legal firms very frequently. Such behavior will stop when we all insist that it stop. And when we teach our children how to recognize abuse and how to make an appropriate exit when they experience it and are unable to get it to stop. This is indeed very important news.
Adam Betz
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 10:33 p.m.
Why is this news? We have young Americans dying nearly everyday in Afghanistan and nobody says a word.
craigjjs
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.
I agree that the media should pay more attention to the service members lost in Afghanistan. It seems that they are just forgotten by everyone but their families and friends. It has been this way for some time, but as we reduce our presence in Afghanistan, we seem to be trying to forget about it as quickly as possible. That said, I will leave it to aa.com to decide whether an event is news and to publish it on their site. It's not a zero sum game. There's plenty of Internet out there.
Roncerz
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 10:16 p.m.
This is so incredibly sad & tragic. I am sorry to hear it. When we are young we feel and believe we are invincible. I am so sorry for his family. RIP young man. I am sure you will not be forgotten by all those who loved you.
Christopher Koulouris
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.
Because making it sometimes now means literally working yourself to the death for the pivotal chance to be a master of the universe. Welcome to hyper greed and hyper competitiveness for the spoils... http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2013/08/intern-moritz-erhardt-dies-after-working-all-the-night-for-merrill-lynch/
Linda Peck
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:26 p.m.
Thanks for the link. It was informative.
1bit
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:15 p.m.
"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way. Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town Waiting for someone or something to show you the way. Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain. You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today. And then one day you find ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun. So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking Racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older, Shorter of breath and one day closer to death. Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time. Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way The time is gone, the song is over, Thought I'd something more to say." -Pink Floyd Don't assume that "hyper greed and hyper competitiveness" is what drives people to work hard. People have always worked hard, in fact probably moreso in the past from a physical labor, "get your hands dirty" sense.
justcurious
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:45 p.m.
We've all heard stories of young Japanese family men committing suicide after giving their all to the company. But we have no information here of what actually caused this young man's death. And I agree that some people now are totally driven by their need to excel and make a lot of money. I never had that problem.
RuralMom
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.
Question is, is "making it" measured by your bank account or your personal happiness?
sellers
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:33 p.m.
Why is it reported he worked 3 days straight (through the night) yet that has no baring on his death (not suspicious)? Sensationalism ? I feel for this kid's family, however, this is very weak news.
mr_annarbor
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:23 p.m.
This is indeed tragic, but isn't this a bit of a stretch for a local news source?
Bill
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 1:58 a.m.
I would like to thank AnnArbor.com for reporting this news. I read it FIRST on annarbor.com and then later saw it on a national news feed. The great thing about having an online news service like annarbor.com is that if you aren't interested in an article, you can simply skip to the next one.
Paula Gardner
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:35 p.m.
One gauge I use for interest in potential AA.com news coverage is how many people are sending me emails about various stories. Several people reached out to me personally early today about this story, so it seemed to be circulating throughout UM and in our community. While the man's stay at UM was short, his relationship to UM also was being misrepresented (and the situation raised questions about whether the internship was related to the Ross School). I felt like this short item also helped to clarify some details about the circumstances of his death.
UloveM
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 9:14 p.m.
Will AnnArbor.com report whoever worked or studied at UM die beyond age 85?
Great Lakes Lady
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:42 p.m.
No, he studied a semester at U of M....he may have friends and profs in Ann Arbor who appreciate the info.
JRA
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:38 p.m.
I thought the same thing...
Linda Peck
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:21 p.m.
It is a tragic death, perhaps caused by overwork, but we don't know that. He was so young and obviously so willing to work hard. Blessings upon him and his family.
RuralMom
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7 p.m.
Could another person who consumed too many energy drinks in order to press the body & mind beyond their limits, time will only tell. Condolences to the family whatever the case may be.
justcurious
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.
This is tragic but we have very little information. I cannot imagine how someone would die from "overwork". Stress causes diseases but you don't die from the stress. His work probably was not physical work. At his young age there has to be an underlying cause that would cause him to die.