Investigation Continues Into Near-Drowning Of New Canaan 5-Year-Old In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — Police are studying surveillance video and interviewing witnesses and staff in connection with the investigation into the near-drowning of a 5-year-old New Canaan boy Thursday at the Chelsea Piers Splash Zone in Stamford. The child was listed in "critically stable" condition Friday but had not regained consciousness, reports the Stamford Advocate.

The child, who was at a summer program at the facility, is in the intensive care unit of the Yale-New Haven's Children's Hospital as he fights for his life. Authorities believe he was submerged underwater for closer to four minutes, instead of the three-minute earlier estimate, before he was rescued. He was first taken to Stamford Hospital following the 12:30 p.m. incident and then transported to the New Haven hospital later in the afternoon.

Police say that the 23-year-old lifeguard who pulled the boy from the water and began CPR has not spoken to detectives, instead waiting until he hires an attorney before speaking with authorities.

According to the publication, the boy was breathing but unconscious when medics arrived on the scene. They worked on him and were able to get a pulse before whisking him off to the hospital. He reportedly has suffered seizures since the incident, and has been heavily medicated by doctors to assist with his care.

A hospital spokesperson did not return a call from Patch for an update about the child's condition late Friday afternoon.

The surveillance video from Chelsea Piers helped authorities determine the amount of time the boy was submerged, writes the Advocate.

Click here to read the full story on the Stamford Advocate website.

Patch file photo