The Management of the University of Ghana (UG) has confirmed earlier reports that a first-year student has drowned whilst swimming in the university’s swimming pool. According to the University of Ghana, the sad event occurred on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at around 4:40 pm.
A statement issued by the management of the school on Sunday, January 30, 2022 singed by the Director of the Public Affairs Directorate, Elizier T. Ameyaw-Buronyah, disclosed that the University is liaising with the Police to investigate the untimely demise of the Level 100 student.
“Management of the University of Ghana regrets to announce that a Level 100 male student of the University died around 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2022, while using the swimming pool at the University’s Sports Directorate, in spite of attempts by pool guards to ensure his safety.
“The family of the student has been notified and the body has since been deposited at the University Hospital, while further investigations take place. Management mourns his tragic loss and sends deepest condolences to his family and friends, on behalf of the entire University community”.
UG
The management of the school pledged to update the general public on further developments concerning the sad event.
“We assure members of the University community and the bereaved family that Management is working together with the Police and the University Health Services to investigate the unfortunate incident. The community will be duly informed about any further developments”.
UG
Reports of the drowning of the student
On Saturday, January 29, 2022, there were reports that a fresher of the University of Ghana died whilst attempting to swim at the school’s swimming pool.
The student, whose name is still yet to be known, was said to have lost his life after he attempted to swim at the deep end of the pool on that fateful day.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to campus-based Radio Univers on Saturday, indicated that the victim was asked to depart from the dangerous side of the pool but he ignored the warning of the instructors, leading to his death.
“Usually, the swim instructors, If they don’t see you swimming there always, they know that you are not really good at swimming per how you kick and all and they ask you to go back”, an eyewitness said.
The eyewitness added that “so, the guy went to the 21ft and was asked to go back the first time…. not knowing he went there again and the next thing they heard was that he had drowned”.
In a viral video making rounds, some persons were seen trying to retrieve the body of the supposed drowned student from the pool.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time a student has lost his or her life whilst trying to swim at the university’s swimming pool. It can be recalled that in 2017, a Level 400 student of the University of Ghana was reported dead after he drowned in the school’s swimming pool on a Saturday.
The 22-year-old final year student, who was identified as Dennis Akoto, was said to have gone to the poolside for a Saturday afternoon relaxation when the incident happened.
The deceased was a student of Economics and Information Studies and celebrated his 22nd birthday the Monday before his untimely death. A floormate of the deceased, who was with him in the swimming pool, described his death as strange because “Dennis is a very good swimmer and very cautious”.
