Fatal Drowning Probed in Attleboro

Attleboro Police and State Police Detectives assigned to this office are currently investigating an apparent fatal drowning, which occurred this afternoon in the City of Attleboro.

Police and Rescue Personnel received a 911 call reporting a drowning at an indoor swimming pool at an apartment complex located at 3 Commonwealth Avenue around 3:15 p.m. today. Upon arrival, police and paramedics from the Attleboro Fire Department found the victim unresponsive outside the swimming pool. The victim, later identified as Ibrahim Iqbal, 17, of Brooklyn, NY, was rushed to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, where he was pronounced dead around 4 p.m. today.

The initial investigation into this incident has revealed that Mr. Iqbal, who was visiting relatives at the apartment complex this week, had been swimming laps in the large indoor heated pool. He was accompanied at the pool area by his cousin, who was not swimming with him. At some point after swimming laps, Mr. Iqbal was swimming to the bottom of the nine foot deep end of the pool, touching the bottom, and coming back up for air. He apparently did this several times. During one of the trips to the bottom of the pool, Mr. Iqbal did not come back up for air. His cousin shouted for help and a member of the management staff, along with another resident of the apartment complex, were able to get Mr. Iqbal out of the pool and began performing CPR.

The death appears to be accidental at this time.

However, the investigation into the death will continue and the Medical Examiner’s office will conduct an autopsy.

Contact:

Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576—after hours

Ashley Bendiksen
Media Assistant
508-997-0711
774-929-5614—after hours