Night of ‘poolhopping’ ends in teen boy’s drowning
FOLCROFT >> The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from the pool at the Folcroft Swim Club early Wednesday morning, authorities said.
It is believed to be an accidental drowning. The victim has been identified and his parents notified, said Folcroft Police Chief William Bair, but police are withholding the name for now.
Bair indicated the juvenile was part of a group that was in the pool after hours. He said officers conducted interviews throughout the night and learned there were four boys between the ages of 13 and 15 who were going pool hopping.
At one point, Bair said the victim jumped from a high dive onto another boy who was already in the water. None of the other boys could swim and could not retrieve the victim from the deep end of the pool, according to Bair.
At first, he said, the other teens became scared and ran off, but one stopped and phoned police before returning to the pool. Officers were called to the facility at Ashland and Warwick avenues in the borough just after 1 a.m.
“In light of the situation we will be closed today, Wednesday August 21 and will reopen Thursday August 22,” a message on the pool’s website reads. “We would like to thank all of the first responders that provided assistance in this terrible event. We ask that everyone keep all families involved in their thoughts and prayers at this time.”
Bair said his department is treating the matter as a tragic accident and he does not believe any charges will be forthcoming, but that will be up to District Attorney Katayoun Copeland’s office. Calls to Copeland Wednesday were not returned.