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New Canaan Boy, 5, Who Nearly Drowned At Chelsea Piers Remains Unconscious

STAMFORD, Conn. — A 5-year-old boy who nearly drowned in a pool Thursday while attending day camp at Chelsea Piers in Stamford remained unconscious Friday in the intensive care unit of Yale-New Haven Hospital, according to the Stamford Advocate.

A New Canaan boy who nearly drowned in a pool Thursday at Chelsea Piers in Stamford remains in the hospital in a coma on Friday.

A New Canaan boy who nearly drowned in a pool Thursday at Chelsea Piers in Stamford remains in the hospital in a coma on Friday.

Photo Credit: Eric Gendron

Stamford police Capt. Richard Conklin said the boy was heavily medicated and doctors were reducing his medication, the Stamford Advocate said.

The young boy, who was attending a soccer camp at the sports facility, had been underwater for about three minutes when he was pulled from the small pool by lifeguard at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, the Stamford Fire Department said. 

"Chelsea Piers staff pulled the child from the water and were performing patient care upon our arrival," the fire department said. Fire crews assisted Stamford EMS in transporting the boy to Stamford Hospital. He was airlifted later to Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital.

The boy was with counselors, lifeguards and other children at the small pool when the incident occurred, the Stamford Advocate said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family. We are deeply saddened by this terrible incident," Erica Bates, Vice President of Public Relations at Chelsea Piers, said in a statement to Daily Voice on Friday afternoon.

Related story: Boy, 5, Pulled From Pool After Nearly Drowning At Chelsea Piers In Stamford

"We are always reviewing our best practices when it comes to the safety of the children and adults who use Chelsea Piers," she said. "During all camp swim and splash recreation periods, we always meet and/or exceed all life guarding and safety requirements. Lifeguards are all certified and we employ best practices as outlined by the American Red Cross."

Chelsea Piers did not release any details on the staffing at the pool or the incident.

"This is currently an active investigation, and we cannot discuss further details," Bates said. 

Police investigators have a video of the incident, which is how they know how long the boy was underwater, the Advocate said. The investigation is continuing. 

Chelsea Piers is located at 1 Blachley Road on the city's East Side.

Click here for the story at the Stamford Advocate. 

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