City conducts review after teen dies at West End pool

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This article was published 03/04/2024 (522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg is investigating after a teenage boy from Churchill High School died after an apparent medical incident at a city recreation complex.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews responded at 4:39 p.m. Monday, after a patron was found unresponsive in the pool area of the Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex, the City of Winnipeg said.

The boy was taken to hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead, the Winnipeg Police Service said.

Police said in a statement autopsy results are pending to determine the cause of death.

A city spokesman confirmed a lifeguard was on duty.

“As per our procedures, we are conducting an internal review and debriefing with facility staff,” spokesman David Driedger wrote in an email.

Driedger noted the WFPS is not informed about autopsy results that determine a cause of death.

Counsellors and psychologists were on hand at Churchill High School to help students and staff deal with the tragedy, the Winnipeg School Division said. The division said the family is asking for privacy.

“Today, we have more clinical supports there just in case kids are having big feelings, and so that we can also just keep track of where kids are in terms of their feelings as well,” WSD superintendent Matt Henderson said.

Henderson confirmed the student was not at the pool due to school programming and that Churchill administration has kept families informed about the incident.

“Whenever there’s a situation like this in a school, and there are tragedies that happen in all schools, one of the remedies is just a regular routine, and a regular schedule,” he said. “So that’s part of what we’re doing as well, while at the same time, ensuring that we just have the supports there.”

A provincial review is also underway.

“Public health inspectors with Manitoba Health are investigating to ensure the facility was in compliance with the (provincial) swimming pools and other water recreational facilities regulation,” a spokesman said in a written statement.

The Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex closed Monday after the incident but reopened Tuesday morning, Driedger said.

— with files from Malak Abas

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca