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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A 7-year-old boy died after drowning at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center on Sunday.
Officials said a call came in at 2:23 p.m. reporting an unresponsive individual. Initial reports indicated the boy was in critical condition.
The boy was swimming in the outdoor pool at the center when another swimmer noticed the boy underwater. Police were unsure as to how long the boy was underwater or why he was struggling.
Officials said police responded in just over two minutes and the fire department responded as well. Police say several people attempted to help and began CPR immediately.
"When we arrived, lifeguards were already providing life-saving measures, in addition to two nurses that happened to be there off duty," said Sgt. Corbett Ford of the Cottonwood Heights Police Department.
The boy was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition where doctors attempted to revive him. Cottonwood Heights Police Department said the boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"This is tragic, and no one feels worse than the lifeguards who were on duty who performed the rescue and were involved," Mike Peterson, director of the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center said.
This is tragic, and no one feels worse than the lifeguards who were on duty who performed the rescue and were involved.
–Mike Peterson, Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center director
Peterson explained that that the lifeguards did everything they could to help the boy. Two lifeguards responded almost simultaneously upon seeing the boy and immediately began rescue efforts.
"Based on what the paramedics shared with us, the lifeguards did an exemplary job in doing their duties," Peterson said. "Another response from police within three minutes, and (the fire department) was right behind them. I know all the responses were critical, but it's just a sad thing."
Peterson said the boy was somewhere in the middle of the pool, where the water could have been up to six feet deep.
He said in his 14 years as director, there's never been a drowning at the center.
Peterson also said the boy's family was with him at the pool. He also said he believed they were local residents.
"Our hearts go out to the family. No one deserves to go through this," Peterson said. "This young family who lost a child doesn't deserve to go through it, these guards that had to witness it don't deserve to go through it. It's just a horrible situation."
