    ACCORDING TO INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION,  DECEASED WAS VISITING  MIAMI FROM ILLINOIS AND WAS ATTENDING A CONFERENCE AT THE SHERATON HOTEL.   ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1996, HE AND A FRIEND HAD BEEN DRINKING AND DECIDED TO GO SWIMMING ABT. 3:15 A.M..  A SHORT TIME AFTER THEY ENTERED THE WATER, THEY BEGAN TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SWIMMING IN THE ROUGH SURF.  DURING THIS TIME, THE DECEASED FRIEND OBSERVED HIM TO BE UNRESPONSIVE AND ATTEMPTED TO HELP HIM.  HE RETRIEVED THE DECEASED  FROM THE WATER AND BEGAN CPR WHICH WAS PERFORMED FOR ABT. 15 MINUTES.   FIRE RESCUE WAS SUMMONED AND FOUND HIM EXPIRED AT THAT TIME.
     DECEASED FRIEND STATED THAT HE WAS A SWIMMER.