Boy, 3, Dies After Being Found Unresponsive In Pool

By Sam Borcia, Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Authorities say a 3-year-old boy died in a “tragic accident” after he was found drowning in a swimming pool in the backyard of a home in Winthrop Harbor.

The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department and Winthrop Harbor Police Department responded around 5:20 p.m. Saturday to the 500 block of Garnett Avenue in Winthrop Harbor.

Winthrop Harbor Fire Chief Rocco Campanella told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that crews received a call for a person not breathing.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said a 3-year-old boy had been found in a pool at a home.

The child was rescued from the pool and bystanders began performing CPR on him, Newton said.

Paramedics arrived on the scene and confirmed the 3-year-old was still not breathing.

Fire crews took over lifesaving measures on the child and transported him to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Campanella said.

Newton said hospital staff pronounced the boy dead in the emergency room.

An autopsy performed by the Lake County Coroner’s Office indicated the death was consistent with drowning.

“At this time [it] appears to be a tragic accident,” Newton said.

Campanella said he recommends residents have fencing around their pools to help prevent children from wandering into them.

The fire chief said the call was “especially hard” on the fire department crew that responded.

Resources were called in to provide help to fire department members, Campanella said.

The Winthrop Harbor Police Department is investigating the incident.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.