ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- East Rochester native and ski freestyle aerialist Michael ‘Mikey’ Lillis was discovered unresponsive by his parents Saturday morning in his family’s home.

Reports from the U.S. Ski team's website state that the 17-year-old died in his sleep.

“He was an amazing kid,” says oldest brother Jon Lillis. “He was the brother that every older brother would ask for.”

The 17-year-old was home on break between pre-season training camps, according the U.S. Ski team’s website.

His two brothers, 23-year-old Jon Lillis and 19-year-old Chris Lillis, are both TeamUSA freestyle skiers. They flew home immediately from Switzerland where they were training when they received the news.

“It’s a huge surprise and a total shock. There’s not a lot of closure when something like this happens to someone so young,” said Jon, who added his brother was destined for greatness and that Mikey was in excellent health.

“A lifestyle he led is as about as healthy as one could be possible and he never had any sign of sickness or anything like that before. It’s really a freak thing, yet, we can’t understand. I think that there’s a few more things that need to get done."

Bristol Mountain Freestyle Coach John Kroetz says coaching all three brothers for the past 15 years, they all had their fair share of talent and ability, but Mikey had a natural talent. 

“No matter what, Mikey would always find his feet, always,” said Kroetz.  

Mike was a member of the Bristol Mountain Ski Resort for over a decade, and Kroetz says he remembers seeing Mikey work hard and sacrifice much of his childhood to grow up in his craft of skiing.

He says being a close-knit community the sudden loss impacts all who knew him.

“We don’t know what to think of it, we don’t know how to explain it. The end result is this wonderful young man who known not to just be a great freestyle skier and athlete, but he was just a wonderful and fun kid to be around,” says Kroetz.

“You know the last thing my brother did with his life was watch the New York Yankees, play that Game 6 game, I mean, he put in my lineup for me, he just loved sports,” adds Jon, who also says the family is comforted by the support of the ski-community and loved ones.

The family is waiting for results of an autopsy to learn about what caused his sudden death.