Why Did a Healthy Former Swimmer in His 30s Die in a 1.8-Meter-Deep Pool?

Former College Swim Team Member Found Unconscious
Drowned After Staying Underwater for 2 Minutes 14 Seconds at 1.8 Meters Deep
"Hypoxic Blackout"... Unrelated to Swimming Skill Level

A man who previously held records as a college swimming team member in the United States died while practicing breath-holding underwater.

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According to People Magazine on August 12 (local time), Jack Roney, a former member of the North Carolina State University swim team, was found unconscious in a swimming pool on July 5. He was transported to a hospital, but ultimately passed away.

Roney was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, as a child, where he began swimming. During his time at Myers Park High School, he became the state champion five times, and as a scholarship student at North Carolina State University, he set the 200-yard breaststroke record, holding it for three years from 2008. After graduating in 2009, he worked as a coach for local swimming clubs and his alma mater, later transitioning to the software industry in 2016 after leaving his coaching position.

At the time of the accident, his wife had briefly stepped away and returned to find her husband collapsed in the pool. Emergency responders performed CPR at the scene for about 40 minutes, but Roney did not recover. His wife, Maresa, whom he met while both were on the college swim team, celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary with him just a few days before the accident. The couple has five children.

Police obtained footage showing Roney remaining underwater for about 2 minutes and 14 seconds in a pool with a depth of approximately 1.8 meters. He briefly surfaced before diving again, but failed to come up afterward.

The North Carolina Office of the Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as accidental drowning. The autopsy report stated, "He was in good health as an athlete; there was no evidence of drug abuse, foul play, or trauma."

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His father, John, stated, "He died due to shallow water blackout. Although rare, this accounts for a significant proportion of unclassified drownings or drownings involving skilled swimmers." He added, "It particularly affects healthy men under 40, freedivers, spearfishers, and competitive swimmers." He continued, "I want people to realize the dangers of holding your breath underwater for extended periods. I hope this never happens to anyone else in the future, and I know Roney would have wanted that as well."

His alma mater, North Carolina State University's Department of Athletics, issued a statement saying, "His legacy in our program and community will be remembered for a long time." Current head coach Braden Holloway wrote on social media, "Roney was a rare individual who made those around him better people." More than 135,000 US dollars (approximately 191 million won) is reported to have been raised to support his five surviving children.

Medical experts also warn of the dangers of shallow water blackout. In a 2015 report, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that shallow water blackout can result in unexpected injuries or fatalities, regardless of swimming proficiency. The report counted 16 such cases in New York State between 1988 and 2011.

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