Level 300 KNUST student dies after diving from 17.6-foot platform into swimming pool

On November 7, 2026, a tragic incident occurred at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi when a student, David Osei Oppong, died after diving from a 17.6-foot-high platform into the university's swimming pool. The 300-level chemical engineering student had gone swimming with friends when he attempted the dive from the highest platform on campus.

A short video circulating on social media shows Osei jumping from the platform and entering the water. However, a few seconds after his entry, he reportedly failed to resurface, triggering an immediate rescue effort by other swimmers and bystanders. Pool attendants quickly rushed to his aid and pulled him from the water. Despite resuscitation attempts, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), David Osei could not be revived.

He was immediately transported to the university hospital for emergency medical care but succumbed to his injuries. The incident took place around 5 pm on that fateful Saturday. In a statement, KNUST mourned the loss of the student and announced that the police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Osei was described as an experienced swimmer, a regular user of the facility, and a member of the university's basketball team. His body was subsequently deposited at the morgue of the School of Medical Sciences at the university for an autopsy. A video showing Osei performing the dive prior to his drowning has been widely shared on social media.