GHANAIAN BORN U.S. ARMY CAPTAIN STEPHEN ADJEI DIES DURING SCUBA TRAINING IN PENNSYLVANIA
Ghanaian born U.S. Army Captain Stephen O. Adjei has died during a scuba training exercise at Lake Hydra in Pennsylvania. The 31 year old officer was assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point and had been training with other West Point divers when the incident occurred. Authorities say Adjei was reported missing underwater before being recovered and brought to shore. West Point and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office say the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation, and no official cause has yet been announced.
Ghanaian born U.S. Army Captain Stephen O. Adjei, a 31 year old officer assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, has died during a scuba training exercise at Lake Hydra in Pennsylvania.
Adjei died on Saturday, September 26, while taking part in a diving activity at the former limestone quarry near Bethlehem.
West Point has confirmed his death and says the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
ADJEI WAS TRAINING WITH WEST POINT DIVERS
Adjei was participating in a training activity with a group connected to the United States Military Academy.
Several other diving groups were also using Lake Hydra that day.
According to accounts from people at the site, Adjei was reported missing underwater during the exercise.
Other divers joined efforts to locate him.
He was later brought back to shore, where emergency assistance was provided.
MEDICAL PERSONNEL TRIED TO HELP
Two divers from another group who were reportedly a paramedic and a physician helped provide medical assistance after Adjei was recovered from the water.
Despite those efforts, he died.
Authorities have not publicly released a detailed timeline showing exactly what happened underwater before he was reported missing.
CAUSE OF DEATH REMAINS UNKNOWN
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office is investigating Adjei’s death.
Officials have not determined publicly whether the incident was caused by a medical emergency, equipment failure, diving related complications or another factor.
There is also no official information establishing the depth at which Adjei was diving when the incident occurred.
Authorities have cautioned against speculation while the investigation continues.
WEST POINT PAYS TRIBUTE
West Point has expressed condolences to Adjei’s family and colleagues.
The Commandant of Cadets, Brigadier General Joe Katz, said Adjei’s service and commitment had left a lasting impact on the academy.
West Point described him as an officer dedicated to cadets, teammates and service.
ORIGINALLY FROM GHANA
Adjei was originally from Ghana.
He had also lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, before his assignment at West Point.
His death has attracted attention among Ghanaians both at home and in the diaspora because of his military career in the United States.
ASSIGNED TO WEST POINT SINCE 2024
Adjei had been assigned to West Point since 2024.
He served in the academy’s Department of Military Instruction.
The department plays a central role in preparing cadets for military leadership and operational responsibilities.
His work placed him directly alongside future U.S. Army officers during their training.
COMMISSIONED THROUGH ARMY ROTC
Adjei entered the U.S. Army through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
He was commissioned at the University of Dubuque in Iowa in May 2017.
He later rose to the rank of captain.
His military career eventually brought him to West Point, one of the most prominent military academies in the United States.
LAKE HYDRA IS USED FOR DIVE TRAINING
Lake Hydra is a former limestone quarry in Northampton County near Bethlehem.
The facility covers about 55 acres and reaches depths of approximately 100 feet in some areas.
It is commonly used for scuba training and attracts instructors, students and experienced divers.
The facility is not operated as an ordinary public swimming area.
It is primarily used by trained divers and supervised groups.
ABOUT 140 PEOPLE WERE AT LAKE THAT DAY
Lake Hydra owner Ken Kraft said approximately 140 people were at the facility on the day Adjei died.
Several diving groups were using the lake for training and certification activities.
Kraft said the facility places a strong emphasis on supervised training because scuba diving involves inherent risks.
OTHER DIVERS JOINED SEARCH
Divers from nearby groups became involved after learning that someone was missing.
One local diving instructor said he sent members of his group into the water to assist in the search.
The diving community has described the incident as deeply distressing.
CONDITIONS CAN BE CHALLENGING
Lake Hydra can present demanding underwater conditions.
Some areas reach significant depths, and visibility can vary depending on weather and activity on the lake bed.
However, authorities have not established that visibility or depth played any role in Adjei’s death.
Any suggestion that those conditions caused the incident would therefore be premature.
NO EVIDENCE YET OF EQUIPMENT FAILURE
There is currently no official finding that Adjei’s equipment malfunctioned.
Investigators have also not announced any evidence of negligence or procedural failure.
Those possibilities remain unconfirmed.
The official investigation will determine whether any technical, medical or environmental factor contributed to the incident.
MILITARY COMMUNITY MOURNS
Adjei’s death has affected both the West Point community and those who knew him personally.
West Point officials have emphasized his commitment to service and leadership.
His work with cadets meant he was directly involved in preparing the next generation of U.S. Army officers.
GHANAIAN CONNECTION DRAWS ATTENTION
Adjei’s Ghanaian heritage has also made the story significant to many Ghanaians abroad.
Ghanaians serve in several branches of the U.S. military, and Adjei’s rise to the rank of captain represented a notable professional achievement.
His death at 31 cuts short a military career that had already included service in a prestigious training institution.
WHAT IS CONFIRMED
Stephen O. Adjei was 31 years old.
He was a captain in the United States Army.
He was originally from Ghana.
He had been assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point since 2024.
He died during a scuba training activity at Lake Hydra in Pennsylvania on September 26.
His death remains under investigation.
WHAT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED
Authorities have not publicly established the exact cause of Adjei’s death.
There is no confirmed finding that a medical emergency, equipment failure or diving mistake caused the incident.
The exact sequence of events underwater also has not been publicly released.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office is expected to complete its investigation into how Adjei died.
West Point may also provide additional information once its review is complete.
Until then, authorities have not assigned responsibility or identified a definitive cause.
For now, the focus remains on the loss of a 31 year old Ghanaian born officer whose military career had taken him from Army ROTC to service at West Point.
