Thomas Davis

On July 24, 2021 I blacked out while swimming underwater at the Ventura Aquatic Center, California.

Holding my breath and hyperventilating before each underwater lap I have done much of life without knowing the risk of shallow water blackout (SWB). My dear friend Lorraine McPherson was in a nearby lane. She and a lifeguard saw I was in trouble; lack of movement and my head underwater. Fortunately, there was little time lost.

All I recall is swimming underwater, none of the blackout, or anything else for the next two and half days. Lorraine and the lifeguard communicated across the pool and reacted quickly and I am sure their initial efforts saved my life. The lifeguard team joined in and expertly, pulled me from the pool, commenced CPR and defibrillation (three shocks). An ambulance took me to the local emergency room of Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura where I stayed for seven days.

Before the incident I had never heard of SWB which seems odd given my location, on the Pacific Ocean, with lots of experienced swimmers, surfers, and water-sports enthusiasts around. Yet no one that I spoke with after the incident had ever heard of SWB or realized there is a danger associated with hyperventilating before swimming underwater.

Although I recall none of the black out, I have been told by several medical professionals that I was close to ending my life and that I am extremely lucky. Over the last twenty years I have been doing lap swim about 5 days/week, sometimes mixed with underwater swimming, plus I hike at least 10-15 miles/week. Being in good shape helped me recover but I believe the important factors that saved my life were being in a public pool with an alert friend, an attentive lifeguard, quick application of CPR and defibrillation by the lifeguard team, available ambulance service, and a nearby emergency room.

It’s worth noting that I am 73 years old and initially the cardiologists at the hospital thought I had a heart attack (they were not aware that I blacked out swimming underwater). Closer examination at the hospital did not support the initial diagnosis, plus I do not have high blood pressure or heart disease, and I’m in good physical condition from the regular hiking and swimming. Later, I was told by the doctors that what happened was a bit of a medical mystery. Fortunately, this website (shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org) provided new information that I shared with the doctors and helped remove some of that mystery.

I believe from my experience there is potential for doctors to misdiagnose SWB for cardiac problems in older individuals.

We would like to thank Thom for sharing his story with us and allowing us to share it with the public at large. We are so thankful for his survival and it is our hope that through the telling of his story more people will become aware of the life-threatening dangers of shallow water blackout, and will take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from this deadly phenomenon.
– The SWBP Team