Massachusetts

Apparent Drowning Victim Had Heart Condition: Brother

A 56-year-old man died in an apparent drowning in a Westwood, Massachusetts pond

The brother of a 56-year-old man who apparently died drowning in a Westwood, Massachusetts pond said the victim had a heart condition.

The body of James Kane was recovered from Buckmaster Pond Thursday after he failed to resurface from the water. Kane and his brother, Peter, were swimming in the area when the tragedy occurred.

"I was trying to find his body," Peter Kane said. "I was diving in the water, swimming back and forth trying to find him."

After searching for his brother, Peter called 911 around 3 p.m. for a water rescue. He said James had Parkinson’s disease. His brother believes the illnesses may have contributed to the death.

"It must have tripped him into the water and he fell in and he went right down to the bottom," Peter said.

No lifeguards were on duty at the time of the apparent drowning and swimming in the pond is forbidden. However, the two brothers had been going to Buckmaster Pond for years and are expert swimmers. Peter said he is a Navy swimmer and James a certified lifeguard.

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