     ACCORDING TO INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION,  ON JULY 20,1996 AT 12:40 PM., THE DECEASED REPORTEDLY WAS FOUND AT 44TH STREET AND THE BEACH AFTER SUSTAINING A SALT WATER SUBMERSION, BY UNKNOWN PERSON(S).    FIRE RESCUE WAS SUMMONED AND FOUND THE DECEASED IN SINUS TACHYCARDIA, PALE, HOT, AND DRY.  HE HAD BEEN DRINKING BEER AND WAS POSSIBLY STATUS POST SALT WATER SUBMERSION.  THERE WERE NO EVIDENCE OF TRAUMA.  HE VOMITED AND COLOR SLIGHTLY IMPROVED.  
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     WAS TRANSPORTED TO MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN WITH SOME RESPIRATORY DISTRESS.  BLOOD GASES INITIALLY WERE IN THE 42 RANGE, EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE INTUBATED FOR CONTROLFO SECRETIONS.  HE WAS RESPONSIVE UNTIL JULY 23, WHEN HE BECAME VERY RESTLESS AND HAD TO BE PLACED ON MEDICATIONS.  HIS HOSPITAL COURSE WAS COMPLICATED BY ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA, ADULT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME, TOXIC METABOLIC ENCEPHALOPATHY AND POST ANOXIC ENCEPHALOPATHY WITH DEEP COMA.  HE ALSO DEVELOPED SUPERIMPOSED PRERENAL AZOTEMIA WITH HYPERSMOLAR HYPERNATREMIA.  HIS CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE, UNTIL AUGUST 3, 1996, WHEN HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 1:40 AM.
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     PAST MEDICAL HISTORY WAS UNCLEAR, BUT APPARENTLY HE HAD HISTORY OF ETHANOL ABUSE AND HYPERTENSION.