Independence Township, MI — A 4-year-old girl from Sterling Heights is dead after being left alone with other children at a private athletic club pool while two adults went to a bar and restaurant, according to Oakland County Sheriff’s investigators.
RELATED: 4-Year-Old Sterling Heights Girl Dies in Drowning at Oakland County Athletic Club
Deputies were dispatched around 7:30p.m. Friday, January 30th to Deer Lake Athletic Club on White Lake Road for a reported drowning. When they arrived, the child had already been pulled from the pool and CPR was being performed by bystanders. Oakland County deputies took over lifesaving efforts until Independence Township firefighters arrived and rushed her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators say the girl had been in the swimming pool with five other children, the oldest just 12 years old. No adult supervision was present in the pool area when the incident occurred.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, two adult women brought their six children, ages 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4, to the pool. After putting flotation devices into the water, the women left the children alone and went to the club’s bar and restaurant area to order food and drinks. Investigators determined the women remained away from the pool for about 35 minutes while the children were left unattended.
The child was ultimately discovered and pulled from the pool by her sister. The two women were later found inside the bar and restaurant area.
The pool ranged from three to five feet deep and was posted with signs stating that no lifeguard was on duty and that minors under 16 were not allowed in the pool without an adult present. Investigators also noted there were pool toys and noodles available, but no life preservers were observed.
“This is a horrific and tragic death that easily could have been avoided,” Sheriff Bouchard said. “We always encourage that not only is there an adult present for any children swimming activity, but one adult is specifically tasked with watching and not just in the area. We have seen cases where children have drowned in a pool surrounded by adults.”
The case remains under review and will be submitted to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
An earlier report incorrectly listed the child’s age as 5. Her correct age is 4.
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