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Dan Roundfield, NBA veteran with three consecutive All-Star seasons, drowned off the Caribbean island of Aruba while aiding his wife while she struggled in rough water.
According to police spokesman John Larmonie, Roundfield had been swimming with his wife, Bernie, off the southeastern tip of Aruba on Monday when they became caught in rough water beyond a protected reef area.
Roundfeild was apparently swept away by strong currents as he tried to help his struggling wife, Larmonie said. His body was found under underwater rocks 90 minutes later by rescue teams.
Bernie Roundfield was helped to shore by a U.S. tourist snorkeling nearby.
“It’s a real tragedy,” Larmonie said. “He drowned saving his wife.”
In an interview, Bernie said that she and her husband had come to the island with their two grandchildren. The couple had visited Aruba nearly 20 times and were caught off gaurd by the strong currents off the coast of the swimming area known as “Baby Beach”, even though they had frequented there in the past, she said.
“We always go to Baby Beach, and we go there because it is safe,” she said in an interview. “It happened so fast.”
Larmoine said Baby Beach is generally safe but can be deceptive.
“It was a really bad day to go outside the reef,” he said.
A 6-foot-8 forward-center out of Detroit, Roundfeild played for Central Michigan in college and started his pro career with Indiana. He played 11 professional seasons.
Friends and colleges mourned an athlete known for his physical play, but gentle nature.
“Danny represented the Hawks with dignity and pride both on and off the court, and this is a tragic loss for us all,” team general manager Danny Ferry said in a statement.
“People knew he was a great husband, a great dad, a great grandfather,” Bernie Roundfield said. “They knew he would help his friends or any other person who needed help.”
Roundfield was 59.
