A child in Broken Arrow has died after being found in a nearby swimming pool, according to local authorities. The Broken Arrow Police Department and Broken Arrow Fire Department responded to a report of a missing child around 1 p.m. on July 8 and began searching the surrounding area. During that search, officers located the child in a pool and first responders immediately started life-saving efforts, but the child did not survive.
What happened
As reported by KOKH, police and fire crews launched a search after the missing-person call and eventually found the child in a nearby swimming pool. Emergency personnel performed life-saving measures at the scene, then transported the child to a hospital, where the child later died, according to the station.
Police statement
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the child's family," the Broken Arrow Police Department said in a statement, per KABB. The department also acknowledged the emotional toll the incident has taken on first responders and noted that the case is under active investigation.
Investigation and coverage
Officials told local media the circumstances surrounding the drowning remain under investigation, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact investigators. Coverage of the incident was also carried by other affiliates, including KOKH, which reported on the police statement.
Pool safety and prevention
Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death for young children in the United States, and the CDC outlines several steps that can help reduce the risk. The agency and safety experts emphasize constant, close supervision around water, four-sided fencing with self-latching gates around home pools, life jackets for weak or inexperienced swimmers, swim lessons, and CPR training for caregivers.
Local pools and resources
Broken Arrow's parks page lists municipal pools and splash pads that opened for the summer, including the Family Aquatic Center and Nienhuis Aquatic Facility. For non-emergency information or tips, the city provides an after-hours and non-emergency number at 918-259-8400, and urges residents to call 911 for emergencies, per the City of Broken Arrow.
Investigators say the case is still under active review, and anyone with possible information is asked to contact the Broken Arrow Police Department. The loss has shaken the community, and sympathies are with the child's family and everyone affected by this tragedy.
