Father blames no one for son's death

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's been a painful week for a Manchester family who's son drowned in the school's swimming pool. The father isn't blaming anyone, he just wants some changes made in these classes.

"The way I saw him is something I will never forget," Daniel Ofori-Mintah, the victim's father.

Ofori-Mintah explains the shock and the hurt the day he was sent to the hospital to say goodbye to his 14-year-old son, Malvrick Donkor.

"He's a respectful and loving guy, very intelligent, somebody I can never forget, somebody their mother can never forget," Ofori-Mintah said.

The 14-year-old freshman moved here from Ghana just eight months ago to be with his mother.  He was excited to become a better swimmer.

At the end of last weeks class police say a student found him underwater.

"I want to know from the school what really happened, not from the media," Oforo-Mintah said.

The father and his legal advisor, Carlton Hume, are talking about an article they read stating a source watched the surveillance video from Manchester High School's pool showing the teen underwater in the deep end for about 17 minutes.

"Until full investigation has been done and we also intend to do our own down the road as well, but until thats done we are withholding judgement," Hume said.

But they are commenting on how changes must be made immediately.

"No child should have to drown and that's why I'm thinking that whatever the method out there that they're using to have pool classes in their physical education classes, it doesn't work," Hume said.

Middletown Public schools tell news 8 they're already reviewing their procedures. Less than a year ago, an East Hartford student also drowned at school.

"Swimming I know is the hardest exercise one can have," Ofori-Mintah said.

The father says the school is helping them find a spot to have the memorial service so that all students can say goodbye properly. That's expected to happen Saturday Dec. 15.