Girl Died In Drowning At White Water Canyon Water Park In Tinley Park
Unsafe Premises - July 3, 2023
Five-Year-Old Girl Tragically Died In Suspected Tinley Park Drowning Accident At White Water Canyon Water Park
TINLEY PARK, ILLINOIS (July 3, 2023) – A 5-year-old girl has tragically died in a drowning accident at the White Water Canyon Water Park in Tinley Park.
Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:20 p.m. on Friday. White Water Canyon Water Park lifeguards found a girl unresponsive in the water and pulled her out.
The lifeguards began CPR and used an AED machine until first responders arrived. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition where she was later pronounced dead.
White Water Canyon Water Park is owned and operated by the Tinley Park Park District. It remains unclear how long the girl was in the water before she was pulled out.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Tinley Park Drowning Accidents
Accidental drowning remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Drowning deaths are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children aged 0–17 years and the leading cause for those aged 1–4. Unintentional drowning death rates among children were highest for those aged 1–4, with rates decreasing from 3.2 in 1999 to 2.4 in 2019.” There are a number of steps that pool owners can take in order to help prevent child drownings.
- Gate Guards can be used to regulate the flow of children coming in and out of any area with an open pool.
- Lifeguards should be positioned at both ends of a pool.
- Lifeguards should be well trained in CPR.
- Lifeguards should never be distracted by their cellphones or other people.
A property owner could face liability if a child drowns in their care. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code 740 ILCS 130/2, all property owners in Illinois have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This includes taking steps to prevent drownings. These types of accidents are a known risk, especially when small children are near a pool. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any drowning accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any accident. But it is important for accident victims to know that they do have rights. The family of any child that dies in a pool drowning may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. It is important that all evidence is properly preserved after any incident. Evidence is what will ultimately be used to determine liability.
Investigating Tinley Park Drowning Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the girl that died in this accident at the White Water Canyon Water Park. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this. Drownings are preventable when water parks are following safety regulations and being proactive.
Do you need more information about a drowning accident in Tinley Park? Our team of water park safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that safety regulations are being followed inside of all businesses with a pool open to children. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
