Chicago man who couldn’t swim drowns in deep end of Florida pool, deputies say

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — A 20-year-old Chicago man drowned after getting into the deep end of a Gainesville community pool, even though he didn’t know how to swim, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said that Gildan Cornelious entered the deep end of the pool at Hidden Oaks Mobile Home Park with an 11-year-old child Saturday evening. While the child was able to get out of the water safely, Cornelious never resurfaced.

Deputies said they were called to the pool at 100 Castle Drive around 6:25 p.m. on July 12 to a report of a possible drowning. When they arrived, they found Cornelious unresponsive underwater in the deep end.

Deputies jumped into the pool, pulled him from the water, and began CPR and other life-saving measures, including the use of an automated external defibrillator, according to the news release. Alachua County Fire Rescue took Cornelious to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

According to the sheriff’s office, surveillance video and witness interviews showed Cornelious and the child entered the deep end together. Investigators later learned that neither of them knew how to swim.

An adult who arrived at the pool moments later noticed Cornelious underwater and immediately called 911, authorities said.

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Detectives said there are no signs of foul play, and the death appears to be an accidental drowning.

The District Eight Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death. The sheriff’s office also said it is working with victim advocates to provide counseling resources for the 11-year-old child, who witnessed the incident.

The investigation remains active, although deputies said no criminal activity is suspected.

Living in Florida means being around water year-round. Safety experts encourage children and adults to take swim lessons, avoid swimming alone, and stay in areas where they can comfortably stand and exit the water.