6-Year-Old Boy Nearly Drowns at FDR State Park Pool

Five days after a , a 6-year-old boy was pulled out of a different pool Tuesday afternoon. 

The six-year-old boy was saved by lifeguards at the pool in Yorktown. They pulled him out of the bottom of the pool, and immediately began CPR when they determined the boy wasn't breathing.  

Luckily, the child began breathing on his own. Yorktown Empress Paramedic and members of the , who arrived at the scene, transported the child to Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt for further care. 

The boy was conscious upon arrival at the hospital, Yorktown paramedics said. 

Some people who were at the state park pool this afternoon said they heard about the incident, but didn't see how it happened. 

Michael Virola, 10, who was there with his mother, aunt, brother and cousin, was playing by the pool when the near-drowning incident happened. He said he asked an adult, who was at the pool with the 6-year-old boy, what happened to him. He was told the boy was trying to jump into the pool, but hit his head on the edge of the pool. 

"[The lifeguards] reacted very, very quickly and professionally," said Diane Virola, Michael's aunt. 

Virola said it looked as if the boy, who nearly drowned today, wasn't there with his parents, but rather he was there with a group of campers. 

Johanna Inoa, of the Bronx, was at the pool this afternoon with her four children today. She said she always makes sure her children are close to her because anything could happen in the "blink of an eye."

Rosemarie Chevere, who was at the park's picnic area when she saw the police and ambulance, said she was glad the boy was OK. 

Amidst recent news of children drowning in the area, experts at the Child Advocacy Center, located in Brewster, released the following statement on Monday:

Hot and humid days have arrived in our area and there are likely to be many more. This means more youngsters and adults will be heading to the water to cool off. Swimming pools present serious risks, especially when they are not properly gated on all four sides, or with improper supervision of young children. Open water also has a host of
unique dangers that puts pre-teens through adults at jeopardy as well.

Open-water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, oceans, bays and even man-made structures such as canals and reservoirs, all of which may present hidden dangers. Lakes and rivers are hazardous, particularly where there are no lifeguards
on duty. Rivers in particular are perilous because the currents and bottom change—with submerged wood or rocks that can shift and present problems. Lakes possess unseen risks as well. Cold, deep, dark waters conceal vegetation that can accidently entrap a swimmer or diver.

Key tips for open-water swimming include:

Know the water. Do not venture into open water (lakes, rivers, ocean, etc.) without knowing the possible dangers linked to the site’s water and weather conditions.

Know your limits. Drowning often happens when a person swims and gets too tired. Learn to swim, float and tread water, but don’t overestimate your abilities.

Select sites with lifeguards and always swim with a buddy.

For children: Never leave them unattended while swimming in open water or at apool. Avoid all distractions, such as talking on the phone or reading.
The complete International Open Water Drowning Prevention Guidelines is available here.

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