Wis. man dies after pounding on window

A 32-year-old man banging on a window to get people's attention died when the glass shattered and cut a major artery in his arm, the Sauk County Sheriff's Department said.

Jerry Baruffi, of Pleasant Prairie, was at a family reunion at Devil's Head Resort, said Jim Schmidt, a relative from Chicago. He pounded on a window next to the indoor pool about 10:30 p.m. Saturday when the glass shattered, he said.

"The young lad was pounding on the glass, apparently to get more people to join him in the pool, and he pounded too hard and the glass broke," Schmidt said. "It wasn't shatterproof and it came down in big hunks."

Family members, including a nurse, tried to save Baruffi, Schmidt said.

Paramedics arrived about 15 minutes after the glass broke. Baruffi died on the way to the hospital.

The Sauk County Sheriff's department said he died due to bleeding from a major artery in his arm. The department said it does not suspect foul play but continues to investigate.

Schmidt questioned why there was no shatterproof glass next to the pool.

"It's a real tragedy and an unusual situation," he said.

Devil's Head Resort spokesman Rob Scheibel said this was the first time, to the best of his knowledge, a guest died in an accident at the resort. He said Wednesday that the resort was investigating.

He did not know the window's size. It was already being replaced but Scheibel said he would not comment on whether the new window would have shatterproof glass.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends," Scheibel said.

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