As told by Luke’s beloved father, Larry Kantowitz
On the evening of Wednesday, June 28th, (2023) my son Luke and I were very much looking forward to going out for Indian Food. It was Luke’s choice, and he was very happy. Before going to dinner, my 17-year-old, 6’1” son decided to go in our pool - a 4-foot-deep above-ground pool. Luke was ‘dancing/exercising’ in the middle of the pool with his music playing. I thought to myself he was fine, and I would quickly feed my wife, Amy (My wife was diagnosed with a terminal disease and is unable to feed herself). Although it didn’t take long to feed her, when I returned, I experienced the most horrific and most tragic event of my life. Luke was lifeless at the bottom of the pool. It was pure horror. I performed CPR, and with the eventual help of medics got his pulse back. Tragically, by the next morning Luke was gone.
I, a close family friend and family recalled in the past years Luke would endeavor to hold his breath underwater. Luke also watched Wim Hof YouTube videos – some of which focused on techniques for extended breath holding (I found one such video on his phone that he had watched only 2 weeks prior to his death – although this technique is not to be used in water it is not specifically stated within the video). Although I will never know if Luke that day performed a Wim Hof breathing technique or if the exercise/dancing resulted in hyperventilating, what I do know is my 6’1’ son drowned in our 4-foot-deep pool (Autopsy confirmed drowning and an accident). The horror of realizing that Luke must have decided to hold his breath underwater and simply passed out is so incredibly painful to accept. If only I knew the dangers of holding one’s breath underwater. If only pools were required to have signage (ensuring that all were educated of this danger) this horrific tragedy could have been prevented. My life, and that of my two other children are forever changed and we will grieve the rest of our lives. We have lost our sweet, endearing, unique and extraordinary son and brother. It is my hope that no other parent or sibling need bear this unbearable pain when it is so preventable.