PORTLAND, Maine — An autopsy showed that the Harvard University graduate student who fell into Portland Harbor and drowned in May just days before his graduation had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit to drive in Maine.
The Portland Press Herald reported Thursday that 31-year-old Nathan Bihlmaier had no drugs in his system, but a blood-alcohol level of 0.22 percent.
Authorities have previously called his death an accidental drowning.
Bihlmaier was celebrating his pending graduation when he was asked to leave a waterfront bar for being visibly intoxicated. His body was recovered two days after he went missing.
His wife was expecting their first child.
He was a native of Osborne, Kan., and a University of Kansas graduate.
Police say criminal charges are unlikely in the case.
Really a sad, unfortunate event.
No surprises here. Why is it that these “educated people” are rarely
educated on the dangers of binge drinking? It should be college 101.
Don’t get stupid drunk……..geeezus.
Alcohol is legal.
It is for sale on almost every street corner and heavily promoted
by some of the largest businesses in the world.
While enjoyed , in moderation, by many people of varying ages , it is still easy
to overindulge and suffer the dangers inherent with substance abuse.
Not quite sure if ” Binge drinking 101 ” will be enough to cut this behavior
appreciably.
The DARE program never really worked all that well, I can assure you.
The deceased celebrator was an adult who had successfully completed
a full range of college courses.
Well educated , and no dummy Im sure.
But still didn’t know ” when to say when”.
And that is a tragedy.
Educated beyond his intelligence looks like.
Unkind and ill-founded comment with no bearing on what happened.
You would think someone from Harvard would know better,but then again
you got it WRONG !!… you would think the bar tender would have known better RIGHT, than to serve an already drunk patron….!!! Under NO circumstances should a “observant” bar tender given him anything to drink, once recognizing his drunkenness ! This young man did not become intoxicated immediately while drinking in the bar! The bar tender, said.”” the man was NOT drunk;however his BAL was a whopping 22!!! I said it months ago, and will say it again. Someone needs to be held accountable for the death of this young man!!!!!
His friends didn’t do him any favors by letting him leave alone but he is The One responsible
Right. Blame anyone but the drunk himself.
you think you would feel the same, had that man been your brother, father or other family member???? I think NOT…….. you would probably be Pi—— off,
because the bar tender over served an already drunk family member of
yours, and he ended up DYING…just think for a second before you
post!! OK
Bartenders walk a very fine line. A person isn’t always obviously intoxicated at first appearance. He could have easily walked into a bar near the one he got thrown out of and had a few more drinks. No one will ever know though. It really does come down to personal responsibility. Personally, I be more angry at his friends for not watching out for him than I would be any bartender who served him.
The bouncer said he wasn’t staggering — they never said he wasn’t drunk. Plus there’s a period of time he was unaccounted for after that. He could have easily gone to other places within a very short distance for a few more pops. He probably went to the edge of the wharf to pee and fell in.
This happened 6 months ago….was anyone really sitting around waiting for the autopsy results? It is a tragedy, but would this be news if the guy was graduating from southern maine community college?
Businesses that cater to serving alcohol have been servicing patrons to intoxication since the beginning of time and then turn them out the doors to fend for themselves….sadly, as in this case, a tragedy often results…..Crazy…..
We probably already surmised he was drunk, but that does not mean the bar should have kicked him out WITHOUT ensuring there was a taxi ready to take him home.
No, they should have walked him home, AND tucked him in! *cough*
His “home” was a hotel directly across the street from the bar.
Whatever happened to the bartender or bouncer hailing a cab for these intoxicated people on the Waterfront? Maybe they should consider doing that so that no one else will fall to the same demise. Just a thought…
I SO agree!!! , people just don”T give a dam anymore about another fellow human being!! and we are over in other countries telling them how to behave civilly! Pathetic
He was staying across the street from the bar he got thrown out of. At the time the doorman said he didn’t want a taxi.
I feel bad for his wife and child ………………….. that being said, I find it
appalling that there are those that always seem too think someone else needs to be held accountable even to the point of criminal charges (Yes, there are time but not every time) ……………………….. this is the biggest problem in this Country today, blaming someone else instead of people taking “PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY” for there action(s).
there go I but for the GRACE of God!!!!
WOW, guess this poor guy must not have been all that important for the results of an autopsy to take this long. So very sorry to his girlfriend and family for the lack of consideration in this matter. What a terrible accident. God Bless.
The autopsy results were in in June. The newspaper just got around to asking about it now.
I applied to a Harvard grad school but wasn’t smart enough get in.
I guess it’s just as well.
The humble Farmer
No criminal charges against who? He’s the one who decided to drink himself into oblivion, so much so that he got kicked out! The person responsible for the situation is dead. Never mind that he was a Harvard grad, the fact that he had a baby on the way should have given him pause.
Does his family really need to see this again in the newspaper! Very cruel.