2theadvocate.com: News - Man drowns in country club pond 06/28/04            



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            Tuesday, June 29



              2theadvocate > News > Man drowns in country club pond 06/28/04 
             


            Man drowns in country club pond 

            By BRETT TROXLER
            btroxler@wbrz.com 
            2theadvocate.com staff
            From a report by WBRZ's Ken Pastorick 

            A Baton Rouge man drowned Monday morning while diving for golf balls 
            in a pond at Sherwood Forest Country Club.
                   
                  WBRZ image 
                  An unidentified member of the Baton Rouge City Police dive 
                  team removes the body of a drowning victim from a pond at 
                  Sherwood Forest Country Club today. 
            Police said 29-year-old Jonas Pitchford of Cal Road drowned sometime 
            between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Pitchford was wearing a commercial diving 
            helmet, but investigators said there were problems.
            East Baton Rouge Parish Assistant Coroner Don Moreau said it appears 
            Pitchford ran out of air and drowned while trying to get out of the 
            helmet. Pitchford's diving equipment did not have a gauge to 
            indicate how much air was left in his tank.
            "With this type of equipment you would typically have surface air 
            and voice communication, so if you have a problem you can call to 
            people top side and say, 'Hey, I'm low on air or something's wrong 
            with the air supply, check it out or pull me up,'" said Pac Brian, a 
            commercial diver.
            Brian said commercial divers usually have two air sources -- an air 
            tank and an air hose. Police said Pitchford only had a tank.
            Police also said Pitchford had two friends who were waiting for him 
            on the bank of the pond and they became concerned when he failed to 
            surface. Friends of Pitchford said he was an experienced diver, but 
            investigators said the loss of air, a scramble to the surface and 
            pitch black conditions proved too much and cost him his life.
            Don Moreau of the Coroner's Office said foul play is not suspected. 
            He said tests are being done to be sure alcohol or drugs were not a 
            factor in the drowning.
            As reported June 28 on WBRZ's 5 & 6 p.m. telecasts. If you have 
            information or comments related to this story, e-mail them to 
            news@wbrz.com.

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