5-year-old airlifted after near-drowning in Wawayanda
Family members and friends began CPR before first responders arrived, officials say
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A 5-year-old boy was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center after a near-drowning in Wawayanda Sunday evening.
According to emergency responders, the incident happened just after 5 p.m. at a home on Ridgebury Road.
Authorities say the child was found unresponsive in a swimming pool and family members and friends immediately began CPR while emergency crews rushed to the scene.
The Town of Goshen Police Benevolent Association says Goshen officers responded to assist alongside Wawayanda EMS, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and other mutual aid agencies.
According to the PBA, the boy was conscious and alert by the time first responders arrived.
The child was taken by ambulance to a helicopter landing zone at the New Hampton Fire Department before being flown to Westchester Medical Center for further evaluation.
The child's current condition is unknown.
The near-drowning comes about a month after a separate pool incident in Highland Mills in which a 5-year-old boy was found face down in a neighbor’s pool and flown to Westchester Medical Center in critical condition.
As families spend more time around pools this summer, safety experts say the incident serves as a reminder that water emergencies can happen quickly.
“Put your phone down and have your eyes on your children,” said Phil Donnelly, CEO of the Rockland County YMCA.
Donnelly says parents should teach children to ask permission before entering the water and stresses that swimming lessons can play a critical role in preventing tragedies.
“It’s never too late to learn how to swim,” he said.
The YMCA recently launched a program offering free swim lessons to Head Start children throughout Rockland County through funding from the New York State Alliance of YMCAs, Step Into Swim and the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation.
Donnelly says too many drowning incidents are preventable.
“It absolutely breaks my heart because all of these things can be avoided,” he said. “We have to make swimming a priority.”
He also encouraged families to take advantage of programs that teach children how to be safe around water.
“There are a lot of programs that exist out there, like the YMCA, that can help kids become better around their surroundings, especially when it comes to safety around water,” Donnelly said.
News 12 has reached out to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for additional information about the Wawayanda incident.
