Published: May 26, 2009 09:32 pm      

SCS student drowns in Correll’s pool

Somerset — A teenager was pronounced dead early yesterday morning after he was found in a swimming pool at a prominent local businessman’s residence.

The 18-year-old, identified as Fasika Hayelom Sibehatu, was found early Tuesday morning by Ward Correll at his residence located on Oak Hill Road, where the exchange student from Ethiopia was staying.

Sibehatu, who just finished his junior year at Somerset Christian School, was pronounced dead by Pulaski County Coroner Richard New at 8:25 a.m.

Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood said Sibehatu was found wearing swimming trunks, and his flip-flops were also found beside the in-ground pool.

“It appears we have a tragic swimming accident,” Wood said. “He simply went swimming, and from there, we’re not sure.”

Wood could not give an estimate on how long Sibehatu may have been in the pool, which has a diving board with a deeper end and a shallow end, but New said they suspect he may have been in the pool since Monday evening.

Wood said Correll told authorities that he thought Sibehatu had gone out of town with friends over the weekend.

New said it’s unknown whether Sibehatu could swim or not, and he said there are several things that may have happened that led to the teen’s death.

“There are no health problems that we’ve been aware of,” New said.

An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death.

Sibehatu arrived in the country from his hometown of Aseliaoromiya, Ethiopia, in August 2008. New said Sibehatu was an all-A student at Somerset Christian School and he was scheduled to return to Ethiopia next week to finish his education.

SCS Principal John Hale said Sibehatu’s classmates were notified of his death Monday morning while en route to King’s Island for a field trip. The students decided to cancel the trip and return to Somerset.

“They were pretty torn up about it,” Hale said.

Students will hold a small memorial for Sibehatu — who Hale described as a smart, well-liked young man — today, which is the last day of school at SCS.

“Fasika was really a good young man,” Hale said. “Always smiling ... and he was a very intelligent young man. He was just a good kid all the way around.

“We feel he’s secure in God’s hands,” Hale later said about Sibehatu, who Hale said was of the Christian faith.

Sibehatu’s family in Ethiopia was notified of his death on Tuesday afternoon.

Ward Correll and his family issued a statement Tuesday afternoon about Sibehatu’s death:

“Ward Correll and family members express their profound grief in the death of a dear family friend. He was an exchange student from Ethiopia. We feel that we have lost another member of our extended family and our prayers will be offered for his family while we pray for God’s continued comfort at this time.”

An investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is continuing.