Florida Swimming Instructor Facing Charges for Child’s Near-Drowning

MAITLAND, FL. – According to a news report posted online at ajc.com, a Florida swimming instructor is facing charges in connection with the near-drowning of a child last summer. The report says the child was submerged under water for more than two minutes before the instructor noticed and pulled him from the water.*

The incident occurred during the summer of 2018 in Maitland, Florida. The Maitland Police Department has released a video that captured a young boy’s near-drowning at the Park Maitland School pool. The 3-year-old child was attending a summer camp and was in the pool using a paddle board. The boy then lost hold of the board and went under water. 

According to police documents, several swimming instructors were nearby when this occurred, and they did not notice he was under water until after more than two minutes had passed. One of the instructors, a 34-year-old female, reportedly knew the boy could not swim. She pulled the boy from the water and called 911 while another swimming instructor initiated CPR on the child. 

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports that the family of the boy has filed a civil lawsuit in connection with the incident, alleging that the child sustained lasting damage that has required ongoing medical attention. The news report did not specify the nature of the child’s injuries. It is not clear if the lawsuit names Park Maitland School, the instructors present during the camp, or both. 

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution also reports that the female instructor has now been criminally charged with child neglect. No further information about the criminal action was provided in the report. 

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Source:https://www.ajc.com/news/national/swim-instructor-charged-with-neglect-after-year-old-boy-nearly-drowns-during-swimming-lesson/t6qM8WjJ8cD33Mm382DYCK/