Coroner: Drowned man, 22, had medical issue after falling

Published 8:01 pm Monday, April 16, 2018

BILOXI (AP) — Officials say a man who fell off a personal watercraft at a Mississippi beach has died.

Harrison County Chief Deputy Coroner Brian Switzer tells WLOX-TV that 22-year-old Donald Broadnax of Gautier was driving the watercraft with a female passenger when they hit a wave and toppled over Sunday afternoon. Switzer says Broadnax was able to right the watercraft, but experienced a medical issue and passed out facedown in the water.

The coroner’s office says both Broadnax and his passenger were wearing life vests at the time. Broadnax’s death was ruled an accidental drowning.

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The female passenger was treated at a hospital and released.