Tragedy at New Jersey Day Camp: Young Boy Dies After Being Found Unresponsive in Pool
A young boy has tragically died after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool at Liberty Lake Day Camp in Mansfield Township, New Jersey. The camp had just opened for the summer.
The camp’s founder, Andy Pritikin, informed parents of the incident in an email, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I’m writing to share some tragic news," he wrote. "During the afternoon swim period today for the freshman division, one of our lifeguards noticed that one of our campers appeared to be unresponsive in our shallow pool."
Pritikin detailed that the camp's trained staff immediately followed protocol by pulling the camper out of the water, administering CPR, and calling 911. The freshman division comprises children in the first and second grades.
Emergency medical technicians arrived swiftly and transported the boy to the nearest hospital, where doctors worked fervently to resuscitate him. Despite all life-saving efforts, the boy passed away. "We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken. Our thoughts at this most difficult time are with our camper’s family, friends, and loved ones—and we are respecting their privacy at this time," Pritikin wrote.
A clinical social worker employed full-time by the camp is providing counseling to those who witnessed the incident. It is unclear if the boy drowned in the pool.
The camp will resume activities on Tuesday, with Pritikin emphasizing that the safety and well-being of campers and staff remain the top priority. Liberty Lake Day Camp employs three registered nurses and 25 lifeguards certified in first aid, CPR, and defibrillator use. The Mansfield Air Squad, located nearby, also provides support.
Pritikin founded Liberty Lake Day Camp in 2002. Spanning 60 acres, it is now the largest day camp in South and Central New Jersey, caring for over 1,000 campers each summer since 2006.
Comentários