Drowning of 8-year-old Delco boy accidental

By Anthony R. Wood and INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: June 18, 2012

Brookhaven police say they are certain that the drowning of an 8-year-old boy at an apartment-complex pool in the Delaware County borough was accidental, and know that an adult tried desperately to rescue him.

Late Monday, however, they still were trying to figure out exactly how Devon Caldwell of Chester could have drowned in the presence of grown-ups and a lifeguard shortly before 3:30 p.m. Sunday, according to Police Chief John Eller.

"I don't have any words right now," said Ed Deisher, property manager of the Camelot Court Apartments on Brookhaven Road. "We all have kids. It's a very sad situation for everyone."

Deisher said that the lifeguard was employed by a pool contractor, and that no apartment staff members were present when the accident occurred.

Police determined that the boy had been in the wading pool in the company of relatives. At some point, they lost track of him. He left the wading area and slipped into the adult pool, where he struggled to get to the surface.

Eller said that the lifeguard was aware that the boy had fallen into the deep water, but "got distracted." It was unclear what, if any, action the lifeguard took.

A man identified as Jesus Nieves, a resident of the complex, plunged into the water, pulled out the boy, and performed CPR in an attempt to revive him. Nieves did not respond to a request for comment.

Contact Anthony R. Wood at 610-761-8423 or twood@phillynews.com.

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