Huntington Beach : ‘Champion Swimmer’ Drowns in Home Pool

A man described by his family as “a professional surfer” and “a champion swimmer” drowned in a swimming pool while trying to show his friends how long he could stay underwater without breathing, authorities said Friday.

The victim was identified as Ronald Quigley, 23, by Orange County Supervising Deputy Coroner Rick Plows, who said Quigley’s underwater prowess may have contributed to his death.

Only moments before he died--at about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday--Quigley held his breath underwater for about 3 1/2 minutes in the apartment-complex pool at 18201 Gum Tree Lane, Plows said. So when shortly after his feat, he swam four laps underwater and then sank to the bottom, his friends thought he had done so on purpose.

“It took a little while” for them to realize the young man was in trouble, Plows said. “They felt he was experienced enough.”

When they realized Quigley was not breathing, his friends dived in, pulled him out and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Shortly after, paramedics arrived and took him to Humana Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Plows said that even experienced swimmers can black out during a prolonged underwater swim.

Factors such as a swimmer’s age and health can play a role in such cases, as does the temperature of the water.