Two Ondo varsity students drown in hotel pool during party

Two students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), have died after reportedly drowning in a hotel swimming pool during a gathering organised for newly matriculated students.

The victims, identified as Oludere Opeyemi, 22, and Adegbola Blessing, 19, were said to have been at the pool when the incidents occurred.

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Jimoh, Blessing was first found unconscious in the pool at about 8:00 p.m. on January 29. He was rescued by the pool manager, administered first aid and initially regained consciousness before being taken home by friends.

“The victim reportedly regained consciousness, was able to stand and was subsequently taken home by his friends,” Jimoh said.

He added that shortly afterwards, Opeyemi was also discovered unconscious in the swimming pool. He was immediately rescued and rushed to the State Hospital in Ikare-Akoko, where doctors later confirmed him dead.

Police operatives from the Akungba Divisional Police Station were deployed to the scene to commence investigations, while the hotel manager, Ayomide Badejo, and the pool manager were invited for questioning.

The police spokesman further disclosed that Blessing later died in the early hours of January 30, after initially surviving the incident.

“Further developments occurred in the early hours of January 30, at about 7:00 a.m., when the first victim was reported to have also passed on,” he said.

Jimoh said the case has been transferred to the command’s Monitoring Unit for a thorough and comprehensive investigation.

The bodies of the deceased students have been deposited at the State Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.

Police said investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.