UC-Irvine student remains critical after Sunday pool incident

Michael Johnson, a 34-year-old MBA student at the University of California-Irvine, was listed in critical condition Tuesday at Stanford Hospital, following an accident at the Avery Aquatic Center last weekend.

According to officials at the Stanford Department of Public Safety, police received a 911 call to respond to a possible drowning at the aquatic center at approximately 10:13 a.m. Sunday, April 17. A lifeguard and paramedics administered CPR and emergency medical treatment to Johnson and transported him to Stanford Medical Center.

The incident, which is under investigation by the Department of Public Safety, took place during an inner tube water polo match that was part of Challenge for Charity (C4C) Weekend, which began Friday, April 15. The event is hosted by students at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

"On behalf of Stanford faculty and staff, and Dean Robert Joss, who is out of the country this week, I want to say that our prayers and deepest concern are with the family and friends of this student, as well as with all of those who were participating in this event," said Dan Rudolph, senior associate dean of the business school. "We continue to work closely with our students, as well as the UC-Irvine community, and extend our continuing concern and support."

C4C Weekend is an annual spring event that marks the culmination of a year of volunteer and fundraising efforts by the West Coast's major business schools. C4C Weekend features primarily sports events but also includes a trivia contest. C4C has raised money for Special Olympics chapters and other charitable organizations. Following the incident, all remaining C4C Weekend events were canceled.

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