'Shock': 39-year-old veteran swimming coach dies after holding his breath in the pool... 'What exactly happened' during the 2nd minutes and 14 seconds?

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A physically healthy former collegiate swimmer suddenly passed away in a swimming pool.

U.S. media outlet People reported on the 13th (Korean time) that "Jack Roni, 39, a former North Carolina (NC) State University swimmer and assistant coach, died while performing prolonged breath-holding training in a swimming pool last month."

The cause was revealed through an autopsy conducted about a month later on the 12th. Surprisingly, it was determined to be "accidental drowning." According to the autopsy report obtained by Charlotte Observer and News & Observer, the North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner's Office recorded that Roni was in "excellent athletic condition" at the time of death. There were no circumstances suggesting suicide, drug abuse, or criminal activity, and no significant trauma was found.

A video capturing the moments just before the accident was also confirmed. After analyzing the footage, local police determined that Roni remained submerged in the pool for approximately 2 minutes and 14 seconds. He surfaced once but then re-entered the water and this time could not get out on his own.

It is reported that Roni's wife, Mareesa, had briefly left the poolside to take a phone call when she returned to find her husband unconscious.

Emergency responders who arrived upon receiving the report performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for about 40 minutes before transporting Roni to a hospital, but ultimately could not save him.

The family officially announced that Roni died from what is known as "shallow water blackout." Also called hypoxic blackout, this condition occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen during prolonged breath-holding underwater, leading to sudden loss of consciousness. The risk increases significantly if one hyperventilates excessively before diving or holds their breath for an extended period.

What makes this particularly shocking is that Roni was a former elite swimmer with no known health issues. As an NC State University swimmer, he set the school record in the men's 200-yard breaststroke. That record stood from 2008 to 2011, and after retiring, he worked as a coach at his alma mater.

Roni's death serves as a stark example that even highly skilled adult swimmers can drown if they lose consciousness underwater. The family has now stepped forward to raise awareness about this danger.

Jack Roni's father, John Roni, expressed his profound grief: "I hope people understand that holding one's breath for extended periods underwater is dangerous, even for those who are excellent swimmers. I pray this never happens to anyone else again. Jack would have wanted the same."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original