Death of Northridge Man Ruled Accidental
The death of a Northridge man Sunday in the waters off Catalina Island has been ruled an accidental drowning caused partly by heart disease, a Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman said Wednesday.
Hardening of the arteries in the heart was listed as a contributing factor in the drowning of William R. Bruce, 43, spokesman Bob Dambacher said.
Bruce and a group of friends were preparing a sailboat for a return trip to the mainland Sunday afternoon when Bruce dived into the water to retrieve a drifting dinghy, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
He had swum about 100 feet when he stopped about five feet short of the dinghy and began floating face down, a sheriff’s spokesman said.
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