Man suffered 'cardiac event' before drowning

A 77-year-old man drowned while suffering a cardiac event in a pool at Carillon North in Grayslake, authorities said.

Donald Parsons slipped below the surface of the water in the indoor pool at the recreation center in the 2400 block of Carillon Drive about 5:55 p.m., said Grayslake Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Greg Formica.

Other people in the pool where Parsons was playing volleyball pulled him out of the water and began lifesaving efforts, Formica said.

“The victim was out of the pool and people were attempting CPR on him when we arrived,” Formica said. “We started advanced life support and rushed him to the hospital.”

Parsons was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he died, said Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey.

An autopsy performed Tuesday night revealed Parsons drowned but had suffered something similar to a heart attack causing him to slip under, Yancey said.

“We believe he was having some sort of cardiac event that didn't kill him,” Yancey said.

The recreation facility is for people who live in the nearby over-55 community.