An autopsy has ruled the drowning death of Luke Marshall an "accident" after the 28-year-old went over a small waterfall in the Mohawk River and did not resurface Friday evening.
"He was swimming with friends, sliding down that spillway" about 100 yards north of the Erie Canal, said Detective Commander Timothy J. Bates this morning. "He slid down that spillway and went underwater, but he didn’t come back up to the surface."
One of Marshall’s friends dove in after him, Bates said, but came up empty-handed. There were eight friends swimming with Marshall in the river off East Whitesboro Street, and they called 9-1-1 at 6:42 p.m., authorities said. A dive team from the Sheriff’s Department responded to assist the Rome police and fire departments, as well as AmCare Ambulance.
Marshall’s body was found by the divers almost two hours later at 8:18 p.m., in an area 13-feet deep near where the group was swimming, authorities said. Marshall was rushed to Rome Memorial Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The cause of death is "asphyxia due to drowning," said Bates after the autopsy. The death has been ruled "accidental."
It is so far unknown what caused Marshall to stay underwater. Bates said, "there were no injuries to his head or any other part of his body. The currents are very strong in that area, and that possibly played a factor." There was no evidence of alcohol being involved, Bates said, and blood samples have been sent away for toxicology testing.
Marshall was swimming with the Tebo family, whom he lived with on Germany Road in Verona, Bates said. According to his MySpace page, Marshall was a fan of rap and hip hop music, as well as horror movies and video games.
Earlier Friday afternoon, fire officials said they rescued a fisherman who fell into the Erie Canal beneath the arterial bridge. There were no serious injuries.
There hasn’t been a drowning in Oneida County since the summer and fall of 2007:
• Jonathan F. Myers, age 5, of Boonville, drowned at the Boonville municipal pool on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007. The youth had wandered away from his family and into the murky, busy waters of the sand-bottomed, man-made pool.
• On Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, 35-year-old Todd M. Dryer, of Sylvan Beach, was found near his jet-ski on Oneida Lake. Alcohol was a contributing factor in his death, authorities said.
The Mohawk River is not a designated swimming area in Rome. The municipal pools opened at noon today for the summer: the Sgt. Michael Uvanni Pool at 500 W. Embargo St., and Tosti Pool at Pinti Field at 200 Sixth St.
Drowning can occur in less than two minutes, so do not take chances if someone goes underwater, authorities advised. Never swim alone, but if a lifeguard is not available, have friends or family watching.
Weeds on the bottom of the river may entangle feet, but you should not struggle or try to yank yourself free. Remove the weeds slowly and carefully.
