Stamford police are investigating after a man celebrating his birthday with family and friends was found unconscious at the bottom of a swimming pool Sunday night.
What was supposed to be a night of food, drinks and fun soon turned tragic after Michelet Mongerard, who was celebrating his 32nd birthday, was pulled from the in-ground pool by a cousin, The Stamford Advocate reported. The cousin was able to resuscitate Mongerard by performing CPR before medics rushed him to a nearby hospital.
Though the young man seemed to be making a recovery, he was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later, authorities said.
A video posted to Facebook hours before Mongerard’s death showed him and his friends enjoying the festivities in his backyard pool. The man’s family and friends are seen eating, talking and dancing as they celebrate the young man on his birthday.
https://www.facebook.com/telehcimon.drareg/videos/2083948484980932/
The 20 to 30 guests who attended the party said they’re unsure how and when Mongerard got into the pool, however, adding that he didn’t appear intoxicated and that he knew how to swim. No one recalled seeing him get into the pool.
“Right now, we can’t find any witnesses who can tell us how he got into the pool,” Stamford Police Sgt. Paul Guzda said. ” … The assumption is he dove in on his own, but that is what we’re investigating.”
Guzda noted that Mongerard, a native of Haiti, had what appeared to be a “minor” abrasion on his head, according to the newspaper. He added that the in-ground pool is only four feet deep on its shallow end.
With the autopsy already complete, the sergeant said Mongerard’s death will likely be ruled an accidental drowning, but the official determination will be made only after the toxicology results come in.