Tinley Water Park Closed After Apparent Drowning Of 5-Year-Old Girl

TINLEY PARK, IL — An autopsy is expected Saturday on a 5-year-old girl dead after an apparent drowning at a Tinley Park-Park District water park pool Friday. The facility is closed Saturday following the incident.

White Water Canyon Water Park, 8221 W 171st St., was set to open at noon Saturday, but will remain closed for the day, staff said on social media. It's unclear if the park will reopen Sunday.

A child was pulled unresponsive from a pool at the park just before 4 p.m. Friday, after being underwater for an unknown period of time. Lifeguards and paramedics performed CPR and lifesaving measures on-site. The child was taken to Silver Cross Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 5:12 p.m., according to the Will County Coroner's office.

The girl's identity has not yet been released.

"The Tinley Park-Park District Board Commissioners and the entire Park District staff extend our heartfelt condolences to the family who lost their loved one yesterday," staff wrote on social media. "Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

Patrons urged counseling services for facility staff involved in the incident.

"Please provide grief counseling for the staff," one wrote. "So many of the lifeguards are young adults."

A former longtime employee of the facility offered support for the staff via social media.

"Sending prayers and support to the family of this little girl as well as to ALL staff at WWCWP," the woman wrote. "Working there for 13 years, it could have happened at any time while I was there.

"One thing I know for sure, is that this staff is the absolute best and highly trained. I know they responded by doing everything right. You have so much support behind you."