Veteran Swimming Coach Dies During Breath-Holding Training

A 39-year-old swimming coach at North Carolina State University, Jack Roney, died in a drowning incident during a breath-holding training session in a university pool on May 5th. The coroner's office ruled his death an accidental drowning, noting Roney was in excellent physical condition and finding no evidence of suicide, drug use, or foul play. His wife, Maresa, had briefly stepped away when Roney lost consciousness and was found submerged. Paramedics attempted CPR but could not revive him. Police reviewed video footage showing Roney submerged for approximately 2 minutes and 14 seconds before he failed to resurface. His family stated that they believe he suffered from shallow water blackout, a rare condition where a lack of oxygen to the brain causes unconsciousness. This condition is known to pose a risk to physically fit swimmers and freediving experts, and a report suggests it may cause 20-50% of drowning accidents among swimmers. Roney's family hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of prolonged breath-holding in water to prevent similar tragedies. Roney had a distinguished swimming career, earning a scholarship to North Carolina State University and setting school records before transitioning to coaching.

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We want to let people know that holding your breath for a long time in the water is dangerous.