UH swimmer dies in pool
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
An 18-year-old University of Hawai'i swimmer died yesterday after he was found submerged in 5 feet of water while warming up in the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex pool.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Mike Sheldt, of Charlotte, N.C., was pronounced dead at Straub Hospital yesterday afternoon.
Members of the UH swim team gathered at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex yesterday to mourn the sudden death of teammate Mike Sheldt.
It was the first death of a UH athlete during a practice or competition in 30 years, according to UH officials.
This morning, the city medical examiner's office will perform an autopsy. But a spokeswoman said last night that unless the cause of death is obvious, it could take weeks for the tests to be completed.
"We're all shocked and numb at the loss of Mike Sheldt," UH head swimming coach Mike Anderson said in a written statement. "We are very concerned at taking care of his family and our kids and trying to go forward one step at a time."
Sheldt, a freshman who competed in the individual medley, and other teammates were training for a qualifying meet for the NCAA championships, scheduled for Friday through Sunday at UH.
At 2:45 p.m., Emergency Medical Services received a call for a drowning at the UH pool, according to EMS district supervisor Chris Ano. The Fire Department also responded, according to fire spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
UH spokeswoman Lois Manin said another teammate in the pool noticed that Sheldt was at the bottom in 5 feet of water and pulled him out. Manin said staff members began administering CPR.
"We don't know how long he was down there (at the bottom of the pool)," said Manin, who added that UH officials wanted to find out the cause of death before implementing any new procedures.
Mike Sheldt was training for a qualifying meet for the NCAA championships, scheduled for Friday through Sunday at UH.
"It's tough to speculate exactly what happened, whether it was a medical problem or not," Manin said. "If we need to do something better then I'm sure we will. But there's no indication that we're not doing everything we can at this point for allowing our student-athletes to practice and compete."
Anderson was on a Mainland recruiting trip yesterday, but the men's and women's swimming teams were under the supervision of two assistant coaches and two graduate assistants. UH pool manager Bruce Kennard also was at the complex.
Dr. Andrew Nichols, the athletic department's physician, raced from his nearby office to the pool, where he used an automatic external defibrillator on Sheldt that was stored at the swimming complex. Paramedics also used the defibrillator.
According to Ano, Sheldt was not breathing and did not have a pulse when he was pulled from the water. Sheldt was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Ano said paramedics were told by UH officials and teammates that Sheldt was not under medication, had no history of medical problems, and did not use street drugs, steroids or performance-enhancing drugs.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
UH swimmers must pass an extensive medical examination in August to be eligible to compete. Manin said Sheldt passed the examination, and there were no reports of medical problems. She said swimmers also are randomly tested for illegal drugs.
Mike Sheldt's teammates were offered offered grief counseling by university psychiatrists last night.
UH athletic director Herman Frazier spoke with Sheldt's family members in North Carolina last night.
"He was a member of our athletic 'ohana," Frazier said in a written statement. "We will miss his contributions to our swimming program. Our prayers are with his family, teammates and coaches."
After a team meeting last night, university psychiatrists offered grief counseling to the swimmers. Teammates last night declined comment.
UH athletic trainer Eric Okasaki told Manin this was the first fatality of a UH athlete during a practice or competition in the last 30 years.
Two years ago, UH swimmer Tammy Tye of Somerset, England, died after she was struck by a car while riding her bicycle in Mo'ili'ili.
Sheldt comes from highly rated Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C., a school of 2,500 students that pulled in $4.2 million in academic, athletic and merit scholarships in 2001 and where 86 percent of the graduating class went on to pursue higher education.
Sheldt was a state high school champion in the 200-meter medley relay and earned three letters in swimming. He also was a member of the National Honor Society and a Scholastic All-American.
Advertiser staff writers Beverly Creamer and Stephen Tsai contributed to this report.
