Man Dies of Apparent Heart Attack While Swimming

PORT HUENEME — A 75-year-old man died while swimming Monday evening at the Hueneme Bay Care Free Living Assn., a senior citizens complex.

James O’Leary, who swims most days at the 780-unit complex in Port Hueneme, probably had a heart attack, a deputy coroner said.

He didn’t look himself when he entered the pool about 5:10 p.m., said Leo Lake, the pool steward on duty at the time.

“He’s usually young and full of life, but tonight he didn’t look good,” Lake said. “His face looked swollen and I asked him if he was all right and he said he was.”

Lake said O’Leary was limping from a leg injury he suffered about two months ago. “He usually dives into the pool and tonight he walked down the steps, so I could tell he wasn’t feeling normal.”

O’Leary probably suffered a heart attack once he entered the pool, said Deputy Coroner Armando Chavez.

“He wasn’t in there very long, probably less than 10 minutes,” Chavez said.

O’Leary, who was discovered face down by two other pool guests, was pulled from the water by Lake. Despite efforts to revive him, O’Leary was pronounced dead at the scene.