The cause of death has officially been determined for Jack Jakubek, the NCAA Division III swimmer who died last May while taking part in a routine lifeguard test in Orleans, Massachusetts. The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s medical examiner ruled that 22-year-old Jakubek died of ‘asphyxia by drowning in a person with a seizure, rendering the manner of his death an accident.
During tryouts for Pilgrim Lake beach lifeguarding on May 28th, 2016 Jakubek reportedly slipped beneath the surface at 8:49am, only to be found half an hour later by an Orleans Fire Department diver. He was reportedly recovered approximately 150 to 200 yards from shore at 9:23am.
It was indicated in The Times Herald this week that Jakubek was being treated for nocturnal epilepsy, but the condition was under control and only resulted in rare nighttime seizures. The family has already reached a $100,000 settlement with the Town of Orleans.
Jakubek was a recent graduate of the State University of New York Cortland (SUNY-Cortland) when tragedy struck. He was a 4-year veteran of the NCAA Division III school’s swim and dive team. As a breaststroke specialist, Jakubek was one of three captains of the squad during his senior year.