The university community is saddened by the unfortunate drowning of one our of students yesterday afternoon at about 15:00 on the Potchefstroom Campus. The 34-year old first-year student was at the university pool together with a friend. The incident was not related to any formal student or university activities.

According to the friend they were relaxing at the pool when the accident occurred. The friend explained that the deceased jumped into the deep end of the pool. He soon realised that something was wrong when the deceased did not reemerge from the water and made alarm.

The university learned that a fellow student jumped in and retrieved him. Paramedics were summoned to the scene and applied CPR. He was admitted to hospital in a critical condition and passed away last night.

All present at the time of the incident received trauma counseling by trained university staff responsible for providing support during psychological, trauma and emotionally related emergencies.

The same support was provided to the immediate family of the deceased who visited the campus this morning.

An inquest is being investigated by the police.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased during this extremely difficult time.