Boy almost drowns; pool left unfenced
by Heidi Rowley on Jul. 24, 2006, under LocalThe Tucson police are investigating why part of a pool fence was removed at an East Side house, leading to the near-drowning of a 5-year-old boy.
The boy was at the vacant home with his father Saturday when he apparently went into the pool, police and fire officials said. The father called 911 and met paramedics at the corner in the 8400 block of East Pima Street, where he handed the boy to firefighters.
Fire Capt. Paul McDonough said the boy was in critical condition at a hospital.
He stressed that supervision is the key to keeping children from drowning in swimming pools and that a barricade is a last resort to keep children safe.
Police Sgt. Decio Hopffer said removing a barricade from around a pool is a violation of a city ordinance and police are investigating.
He said the house is for sale and he did not know what the father and child were doing there.
