A 4-year-old girl tragically drowned at a Michigan pool after being left unsupervised with other children on January 30. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Deer Lake Athletic Club around 7:30 p.m. to reports of a possible drowning, and investigators soon uncovered the heartbreaking circumstances leading to the child’s death.
What Happened:
According to the sheriff’s office, two women brought their six children, aged 4 to 12, to the club’s pool. After placing some floating devices into the water, the women left the children unattended and went to the club’s bar/restaurant area. They spent about 35 minutes there while the children were left alone in the pool, despite the posted signs warning that there was no lifeguard on duty and that children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
While there were other children present, the youngest child—just 4 years old—was left without the necessary adult supervision. At some point, the girl was removed from the pool by her older sister, but it was too late. She was found on the pool deck, unresponsive, where she was immediately given CPR by bystanders before paramedics arrived.
Rescue and Outcome:
Deputies arrived at the scene to find the 4-year-old being administered CPR by two adult men and a woman. The emergency efforts continued until paramedics from the Independence Township Fire Department took over and transported her to a local hospital. Tragically, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The pool area had several pool toys and noodles, but no life preservers were found. The pool depth ranged from three to five feet, further raising questions about the safety precautions in place during the unsupervised period.
Club’s Response and Investigation:
The Deer Lake Athletic Club expressed their sorrow in a social media post, stating that emergency services were contacted immediately and that staff followed safety protocols. The club also emphasized their cooperation with local authorities during the investigation. “The safety and wellbeing of our members, guests, and employees is our highest priority,” the statement read, urging the community to keep the family in their prayers and respect their privacy.
Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard condemned the incident as a “horrific and tragic death that could have easily been avoided.” He highlighted the critical need for dedicated adult supervision at all times during children’s swimming activities, pointing out that incidents like these can happen even when adults are present but not actively supervising.
Looking Ahead:
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has stated that the investigation remains under review and will be forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for further action. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of constant and active supervision, especially around water, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
