An 11-year-old boy is in the hospital after a Porter Ranch swimming pool accident the afternoon of May 24, 2009, according to a CBS News report. The boy was pulled from a pool in Porter Ranch and was resuscitated by bystanders who performed CPR on him. The near drowning occurred at a community pool in the 19300 block of Crystal Springs Circle. The 11-year-old boy, who was wearing a life vest to swim, was apparently found floating face-down and not breathing after brief inattention by those watching him. The boy was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Los Angeles in serious condition.
I'm extremely relieved that this child did not drown in the pool. I hope and pray that he did not suffer catastrophic injuries and wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep this boy in your prayers.
This near-drowning swimming pool accident is a reminder of how these incidents can occur in a split second. It does not take an extended period of inattention or negligence. All it takes is a momentary lapse of attention for such a tragedy to occur.
Southern California has the highest number of swimming pool accidents in California. Los Angeles County has more than 200 near-drowning incidents on an average each year. Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties account for half of all near-drowning incidents in California.
In this particular case, it is not clear whether the boy was under the care of his parents or someone else at the time of the Porter Ranch swimming pool accident. It appears that his father was in the vicinity. Almost every summer, our firm represents a family whose loved one drowned or almost drowned because of the negligence of a homeowner or someone who was caring for the child at the time of the drowning or the near-drowning. It can happen without warning and very quietly. In this Los Angeles swimming pool accident, the boy was swimming in a community pool. It is not clear whether there was a lifeguard. If the child was entrusted to someone else's care at the time of the accident, that person can be held responsible for the accident and resulting injuries.
Near drowning can often result in catastrophic injuries because when a child goes underwater, oxygen supply to the brain can get cut off. This often results in severe brain injury that can cause permanent brain damage. If you believe your child was injured in a California swimming pool accident, you would be well advised to contact reputed California swimming pool accident attorneys who can give you the right advise and information about how to pursue your legal rights.
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