A routine day at the pool turned tragic in Scottsdale on Saturday when a man in his late 70s died after being pulled from the water at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, according to authorities.
Emergency crews responded to the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus near Scottsdale Road and Cactus Road and rushed the man to a hospital, where he later died. Scottsdale police have opened an investigation and have not released the man's name or an official cause of death.
Police Response And Investigation
Scottsdale officers were called to the campus after the man had been pulled from the pool and taken to a hospital, according to 12News. The outlet reports that the victim was in his late 70s and that detectives were working the scene at the community center.
Police have not said whether they suspect foul play as the investigation continues.
The J And Its Campus
The Valley of the Sun J website highlights a full aquatics center that offers swim lessons, lap swimming and lifeguard training, with programs operating through the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus.
As of Saturday afternoon, the center's public calendar and membership pages did not include any statement about the incident.
Water-Safety Context
Drowning remains a serious public health concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths occur in the United States each year and notes that older adults experience elevated rates.
The CDC stresses the importance of layered protections at public pools, including trained lifeguards, swim lessons and close, attentive supervision, as key strategies to reduce drowning risk.
Investigation Ongoing
Scottsdale police told 12News that detectives are continuing to investigate and that no additional details have been released.
Prosecutors or the coroner will determine the official cause of death once investigators complete their work.
