Drowned Northwestern Rower Couldn't Swim: Report

EVANSTON, IL — Just days before his April death, the 19-year-old freshman Northwestern University rower who drowned after being knocked out of his boat told one of his teammates he couldn't swim, according to an Illinois State Police report obtained by the Chicago Tribune.

Mohammed Ramzan, 19, went overboard during crew team practice on April 10 on the North Shore Channel in Lincolnwood. Police said at the time that a coach and teammate had jumped in to try to save him but to no avail. His body was found by divers that night.

Members of the rowing team interviewed by investigators also allegedly said there was never any swim requirement for the team. The lack of a swim test contradicts recommendations by the sports national governing body, USRowing, the Tribune reported. Since Ramzan's death, Northwestern has begun requiring a "safety exam" for its members but would not say if it included a swim test. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Evanston — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

» Northwestern Student Rower's Drowning Ruled Accidental

The state police report also indicates that members of the crew team had differing recollections of the proper response when a rower goes into the water, according to the paper. Some said there was no previously established protocol, while others remembered that the coach is expected to respond.

» Northwestern Crew Rower Dies After Falling Overboard

Only a week before Ramzan died, according to the report, another rower was thrown from a boat and suffered a concussion after hitting her head.

In a prepared statement, the university said it has since changed its policies:

Following the accident, Northwestern’s Department of Athletics and Recreation reviewed the safety practices used by the crew (rowing) club in order to ensure that the club uses best practices in protecting the safety and well-being of participants. Following the review, Northwestern Crew implemented a series of actions to further enhance the safety of participants, including additional training for team members and coaches, requiring members wishing to practice on water or compete at regattas to view safety videos and requiring members to pass a safety exam.

The university declined to provide any information about the nature of the exam, whether it involves a swim test and what the name of the team's safety test was prior to Ramzan's death.

"Out of respect for the privacy of Mohammed and his family, the University will not comment further," the statement concluded.

» Read more from the Chicago Tribune

_{Top photo: Mohammed Ramzan | via GoFundMe}