A first class midshipman who died late Monday evening has been identified as John Johnson, 22, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Johnson died Monday night in a drowning accident, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Naval Academy. Johnson and friends were at a resort hotel pool in Park City, Utah, when his friends noticed he did not resurface.
Johnson told his friends that he was going to practice underwater breathing and holding his breath, FOX 13 in Salt Lake City reported. When he did not resurface after five minutes, they jumped in to pull him out.
They performed CPR until medical personnel arrived and took over care, according to the academy release.
He was taken to Park City Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
Johnson was a member of the 29th Company and served as a company platoon commander. He studied mathematics while at the academy, held a 3.97 GPA and was part of the Trident Scholar Program. He was ranked in the top 100 academically and top 40 overall amongst his classmates. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award in the 2019 academic year, and he spent most of his time at the academy on the Superintendent’s List.
“If I were to describe John in one word, it would be ‘passion,'” 29th Company Officer Lt. Eric Nordquist said in a statement released by the academy. “He epitomized and excelled in every area, and earned the respect of everyone who crossed his path. He will be sorely missed by the 29th Company in so many ways.”
Johnson was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After graduating high school, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before receiving his offer to attend the Naval Academy. He is survived by his parents, Kim and John, and four younger brothers, Vance, Paul, Franklin and Teddy.
Superintendent Vice Adm. Sean Buck said the academy shared the family’s grief at the death of the midshipman.
“My wife, Joanne, and I, on behalf of our Naval Academy family here in Annapolis including the many midshipmen, faculty, staff who had formed deep bonds with John, extend our heartfelt condolences to the Johnson family,” he said.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
