Nationwide — Sahr Sewah, a 22-year-old African American man, died after he drowned while tubing in an Arizona river with friends shortly after graduating from college. The cause of his death was confirmed as accidental drowning, officials said.
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner said Sewah died on May 24 after he drowned in the Salt River. Authorities ruled his death accidental after completing their investigation.
According to People, Sewah was tubing with friends on May 23 when they realized he was no longer with them after turning around in the river. A relative who witnessed the incident said Sewah fell from his inflatable tube and struggled to stay above water before going underwater.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a missing person around 3:15 p.m. that day. Search crews later recovered Sewah’s body from the river at about 12:15 p.m. on May 24.
The medical examiner’s report found no signs of injuries or natural disease. Toxicology tests also showed no drugs or alcohol in his system. Officials also noted that Sewah did not know how to swim.
Sewah had recently celebrated his graduation from Arizona State University on May 12, just days before his death. His family and friends remembered him as a kind, warm, and loving young man who made a positive impact on those around him.
A GoFundMe campaign was created to help Sewah’s family cover funeral expenses and transport his body back to Minnesota as they mourn his loss. It has so far raised nearly $29,000.